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Parisian suburb installs ‘bat boxes’ to combat tiger mosquitoes
Authorities in the commune of Suresnes hope the bats’ appetite for the insects will help cut numbers
A commune in the Parisian suburbs is trying to reduce the impact of tiger mosquitoes by installing ‘bat boxes’.
Authorities in Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine) believe the measure is an ecological way to reduce tiger mosquito numbers by introducing a native predator.
“We have installed about ten bat boxes in the town's parks and public squares,” deputy mayor Stéphane Perrin-Bidan told media outlet 20 Minutes.
The boxes were installed in February, and authorities are now assessing whether the installations provide enough bats to effectively combat tiger mosquito populations in the commune.
As of the last count, 55 bats have been spotted in the commune.
Alongside the bat boxes, authorities have set up 40 nesting boxes for blue tits and 31 for great tits, encouraging greater bird numbers in the commune. Both species enjoy feasting on mosquitoes and their larvae.
The idea originally came from a resident of the commune, who suggested the idea as part of a participatory budget project.
Authorities liked the idea – and locals voted in favour of it – seeing it as a cost-effective and green way to deal with mosquitoes.
Several other communes have installed bat boxes to combat the pests, including Toulouse.
Tiger mosquitoes are an invasive species in France, now present in all regions.
The insects can spread tropical diseases such as Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, and Zika Virus. Native Culex mosquitoes are responsible for spreading West Nile virus.
Bats can eat 600 mosquitoes per hour
The hope is that an increased number of natural predators will cut down on mosquito numbers.
Researchers have recorded bats eating mosquitoes at rates of up to 600 per hour.
Each female mosquito, however, can lay roughly 50–300 eggs in a single batch, depending on the species, and may lay several batches during her lifetime, which means areas can be quickly overrun by the insects.
As tiger mosquitoes rarely travel more than 150m from where they hatch, they are a particular nuisance in areas where conditions make for ideal breeding grounds – stagnant water and drains.
The bat boxes have therefore been installed in areas close to bodies of water, giving the nocturnal mammals quick and easy access to a meal. The boxes are installed high up in the trees, away from humans who can frighten the animals.
While you may not be able to install a bat box in your home, you can encourage native birds such as blue tits and great tits, to spend time in your garden. An added benefit is that these animals also eat processionary caterpillars.
Other tips include removing or cleaning any places where stagnant water may remain (under plant pots, drains, etc) in your garden.
