French Arms Race Against Mosquitos in the Camargue

Elke Brüser reports in Süddeutsche Zeitung (13.9.2006) about the combat against mosquitos in the southern French region Camargue. It's a natural reserve and for ages the use of chemical or biological pesticides was prohibited. Thus, midges could naturally thrive with a peak spread after first rain falls in late summer. Tourists would best avoid the region that time. Now, local authorities want to monitor mosquito occurrence and spray the bacterial compound Bacillus thuringiensis israelis (Bti). It perforates the bug's gut and thus kills it. However, environmental concerned people criticize that the outcome of the measure is unsure: the midges may develop resistance, other organisms that feed on them and their larvae might suffer. The economical reason to fight the mosquitos seems to be tourism. However, if climate shifts and south France gets warmer, other types of mosquitos might invade and spread plagues like malaria.