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Date Published: 11/06/2024

Yecla gets tough on tiger mosquitoes this summer

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The tiger mosquito prevention and control programme is now underway in the northern Murcia town

Yecla gets tough on tiger mosquitoes this summer

Yecla Town Hall has just launched its Tiger Mosquito Prevention and Control Programme ahead of the summer season, as reported by local Councillor for Health, Vicente Quiles.

The tiger mosquito was detected in Yecla for the first time in September 2018, and from 2019 to 2022, the Council formed part of the Tiger Mosquito Surveillance System of the Regional Ministry of Health. After no action at all was taken by the Regional Ministry last year, Yecla Town Council has decided that this year it will launch its own programme to try and keep down the numbers of these pesky parasites.

Populations of tiger mosquitoes, native to Southeast Asia, have been growing steadily in Spain in recent years. They are characterised by black and white stripes or patterns on their hind part. The bites from female tiger mosquitoes are thought to be itchier than those from other, native species of mosquito and they can transmit up to 20 infectious diseases including dengue fever.

This year, the tiger mosquito surveillance system in Yecla began in April and will end on December 17. It uses mosquito monitoring devices and traps to track how many tiger mosquitoes are in the municipality. Two monitoring traps have been placed in the Morterico Garden and the ‘García Lorca’ Garden, and samples are collected every 15 days.

To date, the town has the results of two samplings, the first with positive results (i.e. presence of tiger mosquitoes) at both points, and the second sampling, with negative results at both points.

In addition to this monitoring, the Department of Health, in collaboration with the pest control company, Lokímica, has published a new information leaflet to remind citizens of the ‘Prevention and control measures against the tiger mosquito’ so that everyone knows what they can do to control tiger mosquito populations.

Indeed, Councillor Quiles pointed out that 80% of the breeding sites of the tiger mosquito in Yecla are on private property where the Town Hall cannot gain access.

Lidia Nájar, a biologist from the company Lokímica, in charge of carrying out this publicity campaign, explained that it is essential to control and remove small pools of standing water, which are breeding grounds for the tiger mosquito. Stagnant water could be in buckets, dustbins, ashtrays, flowerpot dishes, fountains, drains, animal drinking troughs, drainage channels, holes in trees, etc. Wells and cisterns should also be protected with mosquito nets, and drip irrigation should be monitored. It is also important to maintain adequate chlorine levels in swimming pools.

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today

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Oficina de Turismo de Yecla

Yecla Tourist Office Yecla is a large municipality in the north of the Region of Murcia, home to just under 35,000 people, and these days is best known for its wines, which enjoy Denomination of Origin status, and its furniture production, which has its origins in the abundance of pine trees on the mountainsides and the high plateaux.

Yecla Tourist Office While visitors in the 21st century may be attracted primarily by wine tourism, the town (or city, as it was proclaimed in 1878) also has a wide historical, cultural and natural heritage, and an identity quite different from the coastal areas of the Region of Murcia. For this reason it is often grouped together with its neighbour and fellow wine-producing area Jumilla as part of the Altiplano area.

Yecla borders with Castilla-La Mancha and the Region of Valencia and is closer to Alicante coastal areas than much of Murcia. These visitors come to see the historic old town itself - an atmospheric and interesting place, crammed full of history - the natural beauty of Monte Arabí, with stunning views for those who enjoy the outdoors, the gastonomy and of course the wine route.

Yecla Tourist Office Yecla boasts cave paintings from 10,000 years ago in Monte Arabí, a Bronze Age settlement at El Arabilejo, Iberian remains in El Pulpillo and a Roman administrative centre at Los Torrejones as well as the remnants of the 11th century Moorish castle on the hill behind the town. More modern (and complete) testimony to the past are the buildings in the town centre, which include the grandiose Basílica de la Purísima, with its striking blue dome, the archaeological museum and the attractive Plaza Mayor, where the 16th century Town Hall stands alongside the Renaissance Casa de los Alarcos, the clock tower and the old grain store.

Yecla Tourist Office The tourist office holds a full selection of leaflets, maps, pre-planned routes, accommodation and restaurant options and information about visiting Yecla for both individuals and groups.