Do not allow tiger mosquitoes to overwinter
Sometimes it gets quite chilly overnight: you don't necessarily want frost on the potted plants in the garden, so it's off to winter quarters with the plants and garden tools. And unintentionally also with the tiger mosquitoes.
Not the adult tiger mosquitoes, which don't survive even mild winters. But their eggs are much tougher: they can survive months of drought and wait for spring. When watering starts again, the larvae hatch and 10 to 15 days later you have adult tiger mosquitoes in the garden again.
The eggs stick to the edge of various containers in which water has previously collected, such as flowerpot saucers, bird baths, watering cans, etc. The eggs survive even if the container is dry. The eggs survive even if the container dries out. However, they are not frost-resistant: as soon as the temperature drops below zero for several days, they die
To prevent this, it is therefore particularly important to clean all containers thoroughly in autumn: To do this, the containers should not only be rinsed, but also wiped down and then stored in a dry place.
Avoid breeding grounds all year round
It is best to offer tiger mosquitoes as few opportunities as possible to breed throughout the year. Tiger mosquitoes are so-called "container breeders", they prefer (very) small water places to lay their eggs. In urban areas, this can be any type of container in which water collects, such as rain barrels, bird baths, watering cans, gullies, blocked gutters, flower vases, plant saucers, buckets, cans, bottles or jars.
- Empty small water containers at least once a week (bird baths, flower saucers, paddling pools, toys, etc.).
- Avoid so-called small watering holes in your garden or on your balcony by removing them, covering them or filling them with sand. Small water points are, for example, umbrella stands, fence tubes or decorative elements.
- Avoid other accumulations of water: Store objects such as watering cans, tyres, empty flower boxes, ashtrays, sand toys etc. underneath a roof or turn the objects around so that no water can collect in them.
- Close rain barrels tightly or cover them with fine-meshed insect screens.
- Avoid blocked gutters and dripping taps.
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