First observation of southern mosquito species within German territory
Title: Anopheles hycranus Mosquitoes, Originally from the South, Spotted in Germany Due to Climate Change
Welcome, folks! Today, we're chatting about the Anopheles hycranus mosquitoes, a species usually found in the south, turning up in Germany. You guessed it - global warming could be to blame!
You probably know that Anopheles hycranus is not everyone's favorite winged friend. Those pesky critters bite. But, interestingly enough, researchers have identified dozens of these species in Brandenburg for the first time ever within Germany. They found 62 specimens in August to September of 2024 at two locations in the Oder floodplains - Quappendorf and Zeschdorf, around 25 kilometers apart.
The team around mosquito researcher Doreen Werner, based at the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (Zalf), made this significant discovery. Biologist Helge Kampen from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute confirmed this marks the furthest north a specimen of this mosquito species has ever been found worlwide. The climate seems to suit these heat-loving bugs.
The Anopheles hycranus hails from southern regions, ranging from the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Middle East in the east. In recent years, the species has been spotted in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, hinting at human transportation.
While the Anopheles hycranus is not typically associated with malaria transmission, its presence can raise concerns for disease spread overall. In theory, this species could transfer malaria pathogens to humans, like other Anopheles species already found in Germany. However, it'd require a contaminated mosquito to bite someone who had just returned from a hot vacation spot to develop the disease.
But wait! The Anopheles hycranus can potentially transmit viruses and threadworms (dirofilaria), but don't worry just yet. The Asian tiger mosquito, already established in Germany, is considered a more significant threat for pathogen spread.
So what can we expect? If traps were set up at the same locations this year, Kampen believes that specimens of this species could be caught again. But rest assured, the findings are published in the journal "Parasites & Vectors," so experts are already on the case!
- Animals
- Science
- Brandenburg
- Climate change
- Brandenburg
- Public Health
- The discovery of Anopheles hycranus mosquitoes in Brandenburg, Germany, could be a sign of changing community policies, as health-and-wellness regulations might need to address the potential health risks posed by these mosquitoes, especially in light of climate change.
- As the Anopheles hycranus mosquitoes seem to be thriving in Brandenburg due to warmer climates, environmental science and climate-change policies could play significant roles in furthering our understanding of the effects of global warming on species distribution.
- The emergence of Anopheles hycranus mosquitoes in Germany raises concerns for employment policies in the scientific community, as more researchers may need to be hired to monitor and study the impact of these insects on public health and the environment.
