Are There Mosquitoes in Ireland?
WouterWhether you live in Ireland or not, you may wonder, are there mosquitoes in Ireland? These biting insects carry a range of diseases and can cause serious illness. They can carry West Nile virus, chikungunya fever and malaria. They can also enter Ireland through cargo and aircraft.
There are a number of species of mosquito in Ireland. These include Aedes and Culex pipiens. These can be seen hovering over water in late summer and early autumn. Aedes mosquitoes can carry Dengue and Zika viruses, while Culex species vector avian malaria and Japanese encephalitis.
These mosquitoes can be found in wetlands and marshy areas in Ireland. They can also be found in watering cans, bottle caps, paddling pools and on pots and pans. The Aedes species are active during the day, while the Culex species can be seen during the evening.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been monitoring mosquitoes in Ireland. It was found that 53 different species of mosquito were collected during last year’s surveillance. The samples were taken from shady places near entry points to the country.
The Health Protection Surveillance Center is responsible for monitoring the appearance of new types of mosquito in the country. The main purpose of the project is to update species distribution maps and establish a network of academics and community volunteers.
Climate change is believed to be contributing to the increase in mosquitoes across Europe. The Asian Tiger mosquito, a subtropical mosquito native to Asia, has spread north and west of Europe. This mosquito has the ability to survive in temperatures as low as 10 degrees centigrade. It has been shown to be a reliable transmitter of malaria.
