The spread of invasive tiger mosquitoes in urban areas is becoming increasingly relevant in Switzerland as a result of climate change and globalization. The first tiger mosquito was detected in Switzerland in 2003, and the situation has been monitored since 2015. In the meantime, the mosquitoes have colonized large parts of the cantons of Ticino and Basel and are also regularly spotted in Zurich. The areas where mosquitoes were detected increased by more than double in the past year (spring). These Aedes mosquitoes transmit diseases such as Dengue or Zika, bite both during the day and at night and pose an acute risk to the quality of life and health of the population. Each female tiger mosquito lays an average of around 300 eggs in a lifetime, which develop into adult mosquitoes within a week. Around half of these offspring are female, who in turn lay more eggs and continue the cycle. It is therefore important to catch isolated mosquitoes. Although the diseases are not typical for Europe, the pathogens are brought in by travelers year after year. If a local tiger mosquito bites the infected person, this could lead to the first autochthonous (domestic) transmission in Switzerland. According to WHO, autochthonous cases were reported in three European countries in 2023: Italy (82), France (45) and Spain (3).
KIM is a tiger mosquito trap that was developed taking into account factors identified with the City of Zurich, among others. The trap should be used in public spaces, work without electricity (no CO2) and chemicals (no insecticides), and sustainably reduce the mosquito population without affecting local biodiversity.
In addition, KIM is more than just a tiger mosquito trap. The concept aims to promote the well-being of people and nature in the city. Cooperation with the population is essential for the optimal implementation of the project. It is therefore important to be in close contact with various parties as early as possible in the process.
- Key long-term goals
- Reduction of the Aedes mosquito population (focus on Aedes albopictus) where it already exists, or containment of the population where it has not yet established itself, without a negative impact on local biodiversity.
- Subsidiary goals
- Raising awareness, empowerment and involvement of the population (test phase in Zurich).
- promoting local biodiversity.
- Control of invasive mosquito species Aedes koreicus and Aedes japonicus.