title: "Mosquito Alert: The Citizen Science App Tracking Europe's Mosquitoes" date: "2026-04-03" excerpt: "Discover how the Mosquito Alert app empowers European citizens to track invasive mosquitoes. Learn how to contribute to public health surveillance from your phone." category: "community" author: "Mosticare Editorial"

Mosquito Alert: The Citizen Science App Tracking Europe's Mosquitoes

There is a war being waged across Europe against invasive mosquitoes, and the most powerful weapon might already be in your pocket. The Mosquito Alert app, a citizen science platform born in Spain and now deployed across the continent, is transforming how public health authorities track, understand, and respond to the mosquito species reshaping Europe's disease landscape.

What Is Mosquito Alert?

Mosquito Alert is a free mobile application that allows anyone with a smartphone to contribute to scientific mosquito surveillance. Launched in 2014 and coordinated by CREAF, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, ICREA, and CEAB-CSIC, the project transforms ordinary citizens into field researchers. Users photograph mosquitoes or breeding sites, tag their location, and submit the data through the app. Expert entomologists then validate each submission, confirming the species and adding it to a public, open-access dataset.

The concept is deceptively simple, but the impact is enormous. Traditional mosquito surveillance relies on trapping networks and trained field teams, methods that are effective but expensive and limited in geographic coverage. Mosquito Alert multiplies the number of observers by orders of magnitude. Every commuter who notices a mosquito on their balcony, every gardener who spots larvae in a rain barrel, becomes part of a continental monitoring network.

How the App Works

Using Mosquito Alert takes less than two minutes per report. The process follows three straightforward steps.

First, you spot a mosquito or a potential breeding site. The app encourages you to photograph the specimen if possible. Clear photos of the mosquito's body markings, particularly the distinctive white stripes on the legs and thorax of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), help entomologists make accurate identifications.

Second, you open the app and submit your report with the photo and your GPS location. You can also describe the habitat, time of day, and whether you were bitten.

Third, the report enters a validation pipeline. Trained entomologists review submissions and classify the mosquito species. Validated data is then made publicly available through GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) and shared with public health authorities.

The app also provides users with educational content about mosquito species, bite prevention, and what to do if you suspect an invasive species in your area.

The ECDC Partnership and European Expansion

Mosquito Alert's significance grew substantially when it became part of the European effort to monitor invasive species. Through the AIM-COST Action (Aedes Invasive Mosquitoes) and the Versatile Emerging infectious disease Observatory (VEO) project, the app was adapted for use across Europe in 2020, expanding its species identification capabilities beyond the original Spanish focus.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has expressed strong interest in integrating citizen science data into its surveillance frameworks. As Aedes albopictus has expanded to 369 regions across 16 EU/EEA countries as of June 2025, the need for granular, real-time data has never been greater. Citizen science fills gaps that traditional surveillance cannot cover, particularly in suburban and rural areas where trapping networks are sparse.

In Spain, where the project has the longest track record, the results speak clearly. Mosquito Alert data has helped officials identify invasive Asian tiger mosquitoes in 156 municipalities since 2023, according to the Spanish health ministry. Six autonomous communities with active surveillance programs now maintain joint protocols with Mosquito Alert, enabling integrated and rapid responses to new detections.

The project has also received recognition at the highest levels. Mosquito Alert won the European Union Prize for Citizen Science, validating its scientific rigor and public health value.

Why Your Reports Matter

It is natural to wonder whether a single mosquito photo from your garden makes any difference. The answer is an emphatic yes, and here is why.

Early detection saves resources. When an invasive species is detected early in a new area, authorities can respond with targeted interventions before populations become established. A single validated report from a region without known tiger mosquito presence can trigger rapid investigation and containment efforts.

Density mapping guides control efforts. The aggregated data from thousands of reports creates detailed maps of mosquito density and distribution. Municipal pest control teams use these maps to prioritize neighborhoods, time their interventions, and evaluate effectiveness.

Seasonal trend tracking improves prediction. Year-over-year data from citizen scientists helps researchers model how mosquito populations respond to weather patterns, urbanization, and climate change. These models inform public health preparedness and resource allocation.

Breeding site reports prevent outbreaks. Reports of breeding sites, standing water, unmaintained containers, and clogged drainage, allow authorities to address the root cause of mosquito problems rather than just the symptoms.

How to Get Started

Contributing to Mosquito Alert is straightforward regardless of your technical background.

Download the app. Mosquito Alert is available for free on both iOS and Android. Search for "Mosquito Alert" in your app store.

Learn the target species. Familiarize yourself with the key identifying features of invasive species, particularly Aedes albopictus (black body with white stripe on thorax, banded legs) and Aedes aegypti (similar markings with a distinctive lyre-shaped pattern on the thorax). The app includes visual guides to help you.

Report consistently. Even negative data has value. If you regularly spend time outdoors in your area and report when you do or do not see mosquitoes, you contribute to a more complete picture of local mosquito activity.

Photograph carefully. The single biggest factor in report usefulness is photo quality. Try to photograph the mosquito from the side, capturing the legs, body, and head. Natural lighting works best. Even a blurry photo is better than no photo, but sharp images lead to faster, more confident identifications.

Spread the word. The more people who participate, the more valuable the dataset becomes. Share Mosquito Alert with neighbors, community groups, and on social media. Each new participant extends the surveillance network.

The Bigger Picture

Mosquito Alert represents something larger than mosquito tracking. It demonstrates that public health surveillance does not have to be a top-down, institutional-only enterprise. When citizens are given accessible tools and clear purpose, they become an invaluable part of the disease prevention infrastructure.

At Mosticare, we champion this model of shared responsibility. Our mission to protect European communities from mosquito-borne threats aligns directly with Mosquito Alert's vision. We encourage every reader to download the app, submit their first report, and join the growing network of citizen scientists standing guard against invasive mosquitoes.

The mosquitoes are already here. The question is whether we are watching.