Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) established in metropolitan France (original) (raw)

The first observations ofAedes albopictus in metropolitan France are reported from localities in the Ome (BasseNormandie) and Vienne (poitou-Charentes) departements. Larvae, pupae and adults were collected between October 12th and 29th 1999 in used-tyre storage centres. The tyre recycling company imports numerous tyres from the USA, Italy and Japan. Reproduction of the species has certainly taken place in France, and the environmental conditions make the establislunent of the species possible. Native to south-east Asia and the Indian Ocean, the "tiger mosquito", Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), has been spreading throughout the world since the end of the 1970s.The main means of dispersion ofAe. albopictus is as eggs or larvae in used tyres. When these tyres are stored outside, they collect rainwater and organic matter e.g. dead leaves, and provide breeding sitesfor some species of Culicidae.Ae. albopictus, which nonnally breeds in tree holes, has easily adapted to the...