Mosquito alarm: Holidaymakers on Rügen suffer from massive bites!

Mosquito alarm: Holidaymakers on Rügen suffer from massive bites!

The holiday idyll on the Baltic Sea is being overshadowed these days by an unpleasant nuisance: mosquitoes! On the popular islands of Rügen and Usedom, numerous holidaymakers complain about the unpleasant situations, especially during the hours when the little beasts are active. How moin.de reports, the voracious insects can currently be found everywhere - be it on campsites, on beaches or in holiday apartments. Walks along the coast become an unpleasant experience due to mosquito bites, and even holidaymakers' dogs have to suffer from the pests.

The frustration of vacationers is clearly noticeable on social media. A man from Ahlbeck explains that he has been repeatedly bitten by mosquitoes since Monday evening. His descriptions coincide with reports from other sufferers who have had a similar experience. According to a tourist, Ahlbeck is the worst place, while in more northern regions Usedom is less bad. Some vacationers even decided to end their stay early for the sole reason that the mosquito plague has become unbearable, like nordkurier.de holds on.

Understanding mosquito issues

But how did this increase in the mosquito population come about? Experts explain that the rainy weeks of the past few months, especially the many rainy days in April and May, have created ideal breeding opportunities for the insects. Heavy rains have left puddles and ponds that are perfect for mosquito breeding. Dr. Doreen Werner, biologist at the Leibniz Center for Agricultural Landscape Research, explains that there is no real mosquito plague, because one would mean more than 20 bites per minute. However, the weather conditions have led to a sharp increase in the mosquito population.

A particularly interesting fact from Dr. Werner: Mosquitoes are not only annoying, but also play an important role in ecological balance and the food web. They contribute to biodiversity, even if that provides little comfort to the disgruntled guests.

The market for mosquito repellents is booming

In view of the mosquito challenge, the pharmacies in Usedom's imperial baths are experiencing a real rush for anti-mosquito products. Pharmacists report high demand – many vacationers are willing to do anything to minimize their stings. Interestingly, mosquitoes also bite through sturdy clothing such as jeans, making the matter even more frustrating for many vacationers. To make matters worse, scientific research shows that factors such as blood type, age or gender have no influence on attracting mosquitoes. Instead, it is mainly fragrances in creams and perfumes as well as breath containing CO2 that attract females.

The mosquito plague on the Baltic Sea is definitely a tiresome issue for many holidaymakers this season. But perhaps a little education and the right equipment will help to save your holiday on the coast and be a little less affected by the annoying pests.