BARCELONA: Catalonia is seeing a sharp rise in mosquito and cockroach numbers, according to the Catalan Association of Environmental Health Companies (Adepap). The group said intense spring rain and the arrival of warmer weather have created an ideal setting for these pests to multiply.
Adepap said standing water in containers and natural areas, together with April temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius, could drive mosquito numbers higher. The tiger mosquito, or Aedes albopictus, is a particular concern because it bites during the day and can breed in small amounts of water around homes.
Andreu Garcia, Adepap’s vice-president and spokesperson, said pest cycles are becoming less seasonal. He said mild winter temperatures mean reproduction does not always stop, or only pauses for short periods.
For cockroaches, control campaigns had to start earlier this year, in April. Adepap said the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is most common in sewers, while the smaller German cockroach is more often found in homes and restaurants. Garcia said preventive work has been brought forward and strengthened because the pest season is getting longer.
Rats are a year-round pest, but they become more visible in summer. Garcia said health concerns are higher this year because rats can carry serious zoonotic diseases. Following a hantavirus outbreak declared in May, he described it as a real threat to public health, while also saying human-to-human transmission is very rare and the risk in Catalonia is minimal.
For more Catalonia news, see our news coverage. Readers can also check official public health guidance from the Department of Health and pest control advice from Adepap.
