Press releases from 27.04.2012
Mosquito atlas now online
Interested citizens can support research
Insel Riems, 27 April 2012. Which mosquito species are present when and where in Germany? This is the question that interests scientists of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (FLI), and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF). So far, reliable data on biting midges and their distribution in Germany are scarce. In addition, biting midges may play a role in the transmission of certain pathogenic agents. Therefore, the scientists are already collecting biting midges at nearly 100 sites in Germany by means of special traps. From now on interested citizens may become active as “mosquito hunters” and send in biting midges that they have caught themselves. They will be informed which mosquito species they have caught and will be given the opportunity to have their personal site registered in the „Mosquito atlas“ for Germany. All information on the mosquito atlas, on how to become a mosquito hunter and interesting facts on biting midges can be found at www.mueckenatlas.de.
Approximately 3500 species of biting midges exist worldwide, 49 of these have so far been detected in Germany. As scientific research neglected this field for a long time, basic knowledge on the occurrence and regional distribution of these insects is missing. In addition, factors like globalization and climate change promote the introduction and invasion of non-endemic mosquito species. Some biting midges and other sanguivorous insects may transmit pathogenic agents. Thus, insect-borne diseases such as bluetongue disease or at the moment infections with Schmallenberg virus in ruminants (transmitted by biting midges), but also human Chikungunya fever in Northern Italy (transmitted by mosquitoes) have first occurred in Europe in the last few years. These results show that research on sanguivorous insects which also include biting midges is necessary. The FLI and ZALF scientists deal with questions regarding the geographic distribution and changes in the seasonal occurrence of the insects. These data are of particular importance with regard to the possible spread of newly introduced animal pathogens.
Contacts:
Priv.-Doz. Dr. rer. nat. Helge Kampen
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Federal Research Institute for Animal Health
Südufer 10
17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems
Phone: +49 (0)38351 7-1245
Fax: +49 (0)38351 7-1226
E-Mail: mueckenatlas@fli.bund.de
Dr. rer. nat. Doreen Werner
Institute of Land Use Systems
Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research
Eberswalder Straße 84
15374 Müncheberg
Phone: +49 (0)33432 82-363
Fax: +49 (0)33432 82-387
E-Mail: mueckenatlas@zalf.de
Contact:
Dipl.-Biol. Elke Reinking (Press Officer)
Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems
Telephone: +49 38351 7-1244, Fax: +49 38351 7-1226
E-Mail: Elke.Reinking@fli.bund.de