Asian tiger mosquito set to establish firmly in Saxony, researchers say, as mild winters aid spread

A new arrival

Two invasive mosquito species are gaining a foothold in Saxony. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and the Asian bush mosquito (Aedes japonicus) both arrived in Germany in recent years and, according to Dresden-based entomologist Matthias Nuß, will continue to spread. "The models for the tiger mosquito too show that it will firmly establish itself here," Nuß told the German Press Agency. He pointed to increasingly mild winter temperatures as an additional factor that favours the insects. Both species are noticeably smaller than the native common house mosquito and are easy to recognise by their black-and-white markings.

Current distribution

The bush mosquito is already widely present. Data from the citizen science portal "Insekten-Sachsen" show records beyond the Dresden metropolitan area, with detections as far as Meißen, Döbeln, Chemnitz, the Erzgebirge region and the Vogtland. The tiger mosquito, by contrast, remains confined to a single known area: Dresden's Neustadt district. Nuß expects that to change. "It is only a matter of time until there will be further detection points within Dresden, but also in other towns," he said. A 2025 monitoring programme in the greater Dresden area recorded 25 of the 53 mosquito species known in Germany; the team is currently preparing those results for publication later this year.

Disease risk

Both the tiger and bush mosquito can transmit tropical pathogens such as dengue and chikungunya viruses, but with a marked difference. "Disease transmission does not occur with it as reliably as with the tiger mosquito," Nuß said of the bush mosquito. So far, no local transmission of these diseases by the tiger mosquito has been documented in Germany, unlike in southern European countries such as France. Experts consider this only a temporary reprieve: the mosquito must first bite an infected human before it can pass on a pathogen, and as the insect population grows, the statistical chance of that happening rises.

Monitoring and public response

The Saxon health ministry and the State Investigation Institute for Health and Veterinary Affairs (LUA) are continuing their surveillance effort this summer. In 2025, 17 Asian tiger mosquitoes were caught in traps placed in Dresden's Neustadt. Residents also handed in specimens they caught in flight and reported nuisance biting. The authorities are urging the public to help contain the insect. In April this year, they published an information flyer, and they ask that sightings be reported via photo email or by sending intact specimens. A ministry spokesperson stressed personal responsibility: "Only if potential breeding sites for the Asian tiger mosquito are removed on private properties can it be successfully contained." Since the species uses even small water collections - flowerpot saucers, children's toys, rain barrels - to breed, clearing these is the main line of defence.

What comes next

The sparse monitoring network leaves many gaps. "Because comprehensive monitoring does not take place, it is not clear exactly where the tiger mosquito is already native," Nuß noted, calling for more citizen involvement. Citizens are encouraged to mail physical specimens to the LUA or the nationwide "Mückenatlas" project after gently trapping and killing the insect (a glass jar and a night in the fridge, then shipping in a matchbox). The forthcoming scientific paper will give the first detailed picture of the state's mosquito diversity, and any new tiger mosquito finds this summer will likely refine the risk map.