Graz fights against the tiger mosquito: 600,000 sterilized males on the go!

Graz fights against the tiger mosquito: 600,000 sterilized males on the go!

Graz, Österreich - In Graz, an innovative pilot project was launched to combat the Asian tiger mosquito. On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, around 126,000 sterile tiger mosquito men were released in the city. This measure is part of a comprehensive plan that provides a total of more than 600,000 of these special males over the next six weeks to significantly reduce the mosquito population. The procedure is coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEA) in Seibersdorf, where the males were sterilized by radiation and cold space.

The goal of the project is to contain the tiger mosquito population, which has been considered a carrier of over 20 pathogens, including dengue, zika and chikungunya virus since its first detection in Graz. The method, which is now used for the first time in Graz, bears the name sterile insect technology (sit). This technology has already proven itself in countries such as Italy and Florida, where similar measures were carried out.

a promising approach

The ready -to -use males are separated from females in the doll stage and then sterilized. The plan stipulates that the sterile males nest into the existing mosquito population in order to displace the reproduction of fertile males. The pilot project takes place in a 15 -hectare observation area in the Schönau home garden. In addition, around 50 insect and egg traps are to be set up in order to monitor the distribution and success of the project.

residents and experts express concerns

Many residents already report problems from the mosquito plague, especially in urban areas, where the local population is severely affected. War heating also favors the settlement of the tiger mosquito in northern regions, which increases the risk of spreading further tropical diseases.

The entire project will run by the end of October 2025 and the data collected should be used to evaluate the project. The city of Graz is planning to expand the measures in the coming year if the results should be positive. Experts still warn that the tiger mosquito will remain a permanent problem and that preventive measures are still essential to protect the population.

For more information about the background and progress of the project, please visit the following links: Krone , Kurier , Ö3 .