The Asian tiger mosquito may be considered a small but mighty coloniser. Despite only measuring around 3mm, this invasive species has managed to spread across most of mainland France in just 20 years. With global warming creating perfect conditions for its proliferation, this tiny pest risks spreading diseases like zika, dengue and chikungunya now more than ever.
Spotted on French soil for the first time in 2004, the black-and-white striped insect can now be found in 71 of the country’s 96 mainland départements (administrative units). Health authorities have put these regions on red alert, meaning the species is both living and breeding in those areas.
