Expert: I've never experienced a mosquito year like this before

Plague of mosquitoes - Expert: I've never experienced a mosquito year like this before

Especially due to the numerous rainfalls, there is an unusually strong gnat infestation this year, according to expert estimates. Such a gnat year, Reichle from the Communal Action Association for the Control of the Gnat Plague (Kabs) on the Upper Rhine told the "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" and the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" (Tuesday).

In parts of South Germany, gnats are also called mosquitoes. In the association, more than 90 municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hessen, and Baden-Württemberg have joined forces. Their task is to contain the multiplication of bloodsuckers - including those that transmit diseases - in order to prevent an infestation. This costs an average of 1.30 Euro per person or inhabitant annually, according to the reports.

Reichle told the newspapers that his employees could not get to all the areas due to the flooding to kill the larvae: "We have been almost continuously on the move with the helicopter since mid-May." He estimated that 90% of the larvae had been killed. What remains is sufficient for an unusually strong gnat infestation.

Anyone living near bodies of water must adjust to more gnat summers due to climate change, as Reichle stated: "The years with peak floods are increasing, and infestations like this one will occur more frequently."

1. The increased rainfall in Baden-Württemberg this year has contributed to the unusual gnat infestation, as per expert assessment.
2. The Rhineland-Palatinate region, along with Hessen and Baden-Württemberg, is part of the collaborative effort to control the mosquito population in Southern Germany.
3. Stuttgart, located in Baden-Württemberg, has also been experiencing the consequences of the heavy rainfall and rise in gnat numbers.
4. The "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" and "Stuttgarter Zeitung" reported on the expert predictions of an above-average gnat year in parts of Southern Germany.
5. In some regions of Southern Germany, gnats are colloquially referred to as mosquitoes, which can often lead to a plague of these insects, as seen this year.
6. The stormy weather and flooding in some areas have hindered efforts to eliminate gnat larvae, making the situation even more challenging, according to Reichle.
7. The Upper Rhine region has witnessed a significant impact from the heavy rainfall, leading to increased flooding and gnat infestations.
8. Apart from the inconvenience, gnats can pose a health risk, as some species carry diseases, which is a concern for local animal populations and residents alike.

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