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Speyer / Mannheim (dpa) - The recent rain makes work difficult for the Schnakenhunters on the Rhine.
"The rainfall in the first week of May led to a flood that flooded the breeding grounds of the alluvial forest mosquitoes," said the local action group to combat the Schnakenplage (Kabs) in Speyer on Monday.
Actually, the fight should start on foot and by helicopter from the middle of the week.
Higher water levels would delay this.
"Now a fight by helicopter is planned from Friday."
Due to the precipitation at the beginning of May, the breeding grounds of meadow and alluvial forest mosquitoes, also known as Rhine snakes, were flooded. A second wave is expected from May 13th. "That has a direct impact on the control of mosquitoes." The expected second wave will completely flood the initially reduced areas again. "That increases the workload significantly, because now larger areas have to be treated." In addition, the hatched larvae are about to pupate due to the weather.
More than 90 cities and municipalities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Baden-Württemberg have come together to form Kabs since 1976.
The work of the snake hunters is complex.
On the ground they often fight their way through the thicket, but many breeding grounds can only be fought from the air.
From the helicopter, the cabs then distribute the biological agent Bti, which kills the bloodsucker larvae.
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© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210510-99-542898 / 2
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