Aedes albopictus has spread across much of southern and central Europe. This guide explains where it is established, how to read official maps, and how to check local risk.
What the tiger mosquito is and why its map matters
Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is a small black and white mosquito that bites during the day. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control describes it as a known vector of chikungunya virus, dengue virus and dirofilariasis. A vector is an organism that carries a pathogen from one host to another. The map matters because it shows where this mosquito lives, not where disease is circulating. A mosquito can be present in a country without any local transmission of illness. The reverse is also true, and a single imported case can reach an area where the mosquito is established. The ECDC published a factsheet for experts on this species. It also publishes mosquito maps that show surveillance activities and current known distributions of invasive species.
Where the mosquito has been reported in Europe
The ECDC reports Aedes albopictus in Albania, Austria (not established to date), Belgium (not established to date), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic (not established to date), France including Corsica, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy including Sardinia, Sicily and Lampedusa, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands (not established to date), Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia (not established to date), Slovakia (not established to date), Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Vatican City. Established means the species has formed a self-sustaining population in that area. Presence and absence labels change as surveillance develops and as the insect moves. Read the current version of the map, not a saved copy. Note that a listing describes a country or region as a whole. The mosquito may occupy only warm lowlands and coastal districts within a listed country.
How the species spread across the continent
Aedes albopictus was first reported in Europe in 1979 in Albania. It was found in Italy in 1990 and has become established in most Italian areas below 600 metres above sea level. This pattern shows a preference for warm lowland conditions, and altitude limits its range in mountainous countries. The spread is not uniform and does not follow national borders. It reflects climate, habitat and the movement of people and goods. Urban areas with gardens, water containers and shaded vegetation suit the insect well. Its eggs tolerate drying and can travel in used tyres and plant containers, a pathway documented in the scientific literature. For a resident, the practical point is local. Your district may sit inside a listed country and still have no established population, or the reverse.
Reading the official ECDC mosquito maps
The ECDC mosquito maps page was last updated on 11 June 2024. It covers invasive mosquitoes and native mosquitoes, and it shows surveillance activities alongside current known distributions of invasive mosquito species in Europe and neighbouring regions. Native mosquito maps cover surveillance activities and current known distributions of native mosquito species in Europe. Read the invasive section first if you are checking Aedes albopictus. Maps of surveillance activity show where experts looked, not only where the insect was found. A blank area may mean absence, or it may mean no recent survey. This is why the ECDC presents the two layers together. Check the update date before you trust a version of the map, and check whether the colour refers to surveillance or to established presence.
Checking your own area with national resources
National public health bodies add detail that a continental map cannot hold. Santé publique France works across the whole national territory through 16 regional units, 12 in metropolitan France and 4 in the overseas territories, supporting each regional health agency. Its topics list includes vector-borne diseases, chikungunya, dengue, Zika and West Nile virus, with regional pages for Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur et Corse, Antilles, Guyane and Océan Indien. Use these pages to see whether your department has an established population or active surveillance. In other countries, the national public health institute or regional health agency usually publishes similar local data. Start with the national body, then look for a regional page if one exists. Report bites and suspected cases to a clinician, not to a map.
What the map does not tell you
A distribution map is not a disease map and it is not a bite risk score. It cannot tell you whether a mosquito is in your garden today, and it does not measure how many insects are present. Abundance varies by season, weather and local habitat. Presence also does not mean that dengue, chikungunya or Zika is spreading in that place. Local transmission requires an infected traveller, a competent vector and enough time for the virus to develop inside the insect. The main protection is to stop daytime bites with a proven repellent used as directed, and to remove standing water from containers around the home. Physical barriers count as real protection when correctly specified, intact and correctly used.
Practical steps for households and travellers
Check the official map before you travel and again if you move home. In areas where Aedes albopictus is established, protect against daytime bites, because this species is most active during the day. Apply a repellent to exposed skin when outside, and cover up where biting is intense. Empty and scrub water containers, saucers, buckets and tarpaulins once a week, since these are common breeding sites. Keep gutters clear and store outdoor items so they cannot hold rainwater. Pregnant people, older adults, infants and anyone with a weakened immune system should plan before travel and seek advice from a health professional. The Foundation does not sell products. It explains the evidence so readers can make calm, informed decisions for themselves and vulnerable relatives.
Sources
- Mosquito maps: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- Aedes albopictus - Factsheet for experts: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- Régions et territoires: Santé publique France