Fight against the tiger mosquito: Millau launches a stagnant water treatment campaign

Quatre espèces de moustiques sont potentiellement source de nuisance sur le territoire de Millau, dont le Moustique tigre, « Aedes albopictus », dernier arrivé à Millau Midi Libre

An operation to treat the larvae present under the rainwater grids is launched from today.

In its program to combat the invasion of mosquitoes, the City of Millau is committed this summer to a simple idea: « Zero outbreaks, zero invasion ».

On the advice of the Interdepartmental Agreement for Mosquito Control of the Mediterranean Coast (EID), expert in mosquito control or insect eradication in certain areas of the coast, notably the tiger mosquito, the City has decided to articulate its action around three components:

the treatment of stagnant water from the city center water network, distribution of sand and mosquito net tulle to Millavois the provision of sand in cemeteries.

Goal of the operation: prevent outbreaks. To achieve this, door to door work – still in progress – meeting residents and businesses, meetings in shared gardens, or even new information campaigns.

Harmless to humans and water

This plan is continuing this week with a particular focus on the treatment of stagnant water. Starting early next week, an operation will begin to treat the larvae present under the rainwater grids, and therefore stagnant water in the city center. The objective is to reach the larvae before they hatch using a biolarvicide of biological origin, BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis).

This natural and effective treatment is completely harmless to humans and water. During the operation, the technicians will be covered with a white suit, as a precautionary measure due to the direct and prolonged contact with the treatment.

It should be renewed whenever necessary on Tuesdays and Thursdays, depending on the weather and the presence of larvae. Note that the structure of the networks does not allow these bottom waters to be eliminated, at least in the immediate future.

In figures

• 4 species of mosquitoes are potentially a source of nuisance in the Millau area, including the tiger mosquito « Aedes albopictus », the latest arrival in Millau, around 2015 – 2016
• 218 potential drains (retaining water) are now monitored to detect the presence of Culex Pipiens larvae (common mosquito) and Aedes albopictus, and treated if necessary.