The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) have found a mature Asian tiger mosquito in a mosquito trap at the Royal FloraHolland flower auction in Naaldwijk.
In this case, the NVWA, together with the employees of the flower auction, has removed potential breeding sites of the tiger mosquito. Tiger mosquitoes may lay eggs in pockets of stationary water such as in flower pots, buckets and vases. By removing these breeding places, the tiger mosquito cannot reproduce. Furthermore, the NVWA is placing additional mosquito traps and researches the origin of the found tiger mosquito.
Monitoring exotic mosquitoes
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) originates from Southeast Asia. Through international transports of, for example, used tires and bamboo plants (Lucky Bamboo), the mosquito has in recent years spread over large parts of the world.
To monitor the introduction of exotic mosquitoes, there are mosquito traps at (air)ports, at auctions and other companies with potential risk. In 2016, the tiger mosquito was found at companies in Etten-Leur, Weert, Assen, Emmeloord and Lelystad and in the Dragonder Noord district in Veenendaal.
The likelihood that the tiger mosquitoes, that have been found in the Netherlands until now, will transmit viruses of infectious diseases, is negligible.