Is There Mosquitoes in Ireland?
Despite the fact that Ireland has no mosquitoes of its own, the country is still home to numerous different species. Health officials are working to contain the population. They believe the increase in mosquitoes may be due to climate change. In addition, there are new arthropods arriving from other parts of the world.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre monitors the types of mosquitoes and diseases they carry in Ireland. They also carry out surveillance to monitor the appearance of any new species. This is especially important in the case of Asian Tiger mosquitoes, which have spread across Europe.
Culex pipiens is a native mosquito that can carry West Nile virus. It can be found hovering over marshy areas in Ireland in late summer and early autumn. However, there are a number of other species that have been discovered in Ireland.
There are also a variety of midges, small biting flies that are a nuisance to both animals and people. These insects can be a nuisance on sunny days, and especially irritating when overcast. They are a significant vector of disease, including Japanese encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, and filariasis.
In Ireland, mosquitoes have been found in 53 locations, mainly around potential entry points into the country. These locations were identified by health inspectors.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control considers mosquitoes a priority. This is reflected in its work programs. In Ireland, mosquito surveillance was carried out last year. This involved health inspectors collecting specimens in shady areas around entry points. The specimens were identified by morphology and rapid high-throughput mass spectrometry.