What is the tiger mosquito?
Aedes albopictus, its scientific name, is a species of mosquito native to Southeast Asia. It has been detected in France for the first time in 2004 and has now colonized two-thirds of the country . Particularly invasive and dangerous because vector of several fearsome diseases , its proliferation is becoming more and more worrying. In recent weeks, a petition has even been launched in Limoux to fight against its invasion because “daily activities are becoming difficult, even impossible,” a resident told the newspaper LaDepeche.fr
Our Crusoe spray was developed to address a public health issue: protection from the tiger mosquito!
While having an aperitif with friends or at a restaurant, we don't necessarily think about looking at what the mosquito that has just bitten us on the legs looks like! In comparison with the Culex pipiens, the mosquito that we traditionally know in France and which is brown with transparent wings, The tiger mosquito is recognizable by its black and white stripes on the abdomen and legs, as well as its black wings . It is also smaller in size (between 0.5 and 2 mm), slower and silent in flight.
Particularly ferocious, the female tiger mosquito attacks at any time of the day and instantly leaves our skin itchy and red with a small blister in its center. However, if you see a tiger mosquito in your area, do not hesitate to report it on the dedicated web portal.
The tiger mosquito is vector of several serious diseases of tropical origin in metropolitan France, and it is important to recognize the symptoms that their bites can cause:
- Zika
After being infected with the Zika virus, the illness usually appears within 3 to 12 days, causing fever, headache, fatigue, rash, and muscle and joint pain.
- Chikungunya
Between 2 and 10 days after being infected, the disease causes severe pain in the joints (fingers, wrists, feet, ankles and sometimes the knees and hips) as well as headaches, fever, rashes and sometimes even conjunctivitis and nosebleeds.
- Dengue
This disease is, in the majority of cases, asymptomatic. When this is not the case, it manifests itself by a sudden fever, a rash and violent aches.
But rest assured, most bites only cause itching... for now!
Indeed, the tiger mosquito has been evolving in France since 2004 in a worrying manner. It is now officially present in 64 of the country's 95 departments and has particularly proliferated this summer in France due to the heat and humidity, even appearing for the first time in Brittany. It seems to adapt very well to its environment and resist many insecticides, making it a particularly dangerous and voracious species.
Here are some effective tips to protect yourself against bites:
- Wear loose, thick, light-colored clothing
In fact, mosquitoes are more attracted to dark and bright colours, and they cannot bite through a thick layer of clothing.
- Use a mosquito net
To protect yourself from bites at night, there's nothing like a good mosquito net, ideally sprayed with an anti-mosquito spray.
- Use a fan
Placed at the entrance of a room or near a window, the fan helps prevent the mosquito from entering and moving properly. In addition, it spreads odors in a room, thus deceiving the mosquito who will be more difficult to attract by your body odor.
- Install a mosquito repellent terminal
Qista is an eco-friendly, easy-to-use, connected outdoor mosquito repellent that protects against mosquitoes while helping to preserve the environment. To find out more, click here!
- Use our mosquito repellent spray
Crusoé Made in France, Ecogarantie certified and DEET-free, our Crusoé spray is effective on mosquito species present in temperate AND tropical zones including the tiger mosquito.
To go further:
Claire Grison - Biochemistry Engineer, Doctor of Organic Chemistry and Scientific Editor
