Research welcomed in village troubled by mosquitoes
Research aimed at determining the mosquito population in Northern Ireland has been welcomed in a village where residents report being "tormented" by the insects.
The four-year MosquitoNI project, led by researchers from Queen's University Belfast (QUB), invites the public to assist in documenting mosquito numbers.
QUB's Dr Ross Cuthbert stated the project seeks to "challenge the narrative that mosquitoes do not exist in Northern Ireland" and to assess the risk they may pose.
Clare Smyth, a resident of Ballykelly in County Londonderry—where mosquitoes have been a significant problem in recent years—described the research as a "good and welcome thing."
"Over the last four summers we have been plagued by them in Ballykelly,"
she told NI.
"My eldest girl was bitten so many times that we said she looked like a dartboard."
These bites required antibiotic treatment, and Smyth noted the insects had put a "real dampener" on recent summer holidays.
The family is apprehensive about the upcoming summer season as well.
"Tormented isn't the word for it,"
she added.
"We used to spend a lot of time in Ballykelly forest but that had to stop, it was so bad,"
she said.
"It gets so much worse on a muggy day or anywhere near water.
People have been bitten alive."
She hopes the QUB-led research will help counter the perception that mosquitoes are not a problem in Northern Ireland.
Her own research has identified different mosquito species in the County Londonderry village.
What is a mosquito?
A mosquito is a small, slender insect found worldwide that acts as a pollinator and serves as food for other animals.
Mosquitoes are larger than midges, which are common across the island of Ireland. They have long legs and a narrow proboscis, an elongated sucking mouthpart used for feeding.
Only female mosquitoes bite humans and animals, as they require blood to develop their eggs.
This characteristic makes mosquitoes feared globally as carriers of deadly diseases such as dengue and Zika.
Malaria is primarily transmitted to humans through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
The World Health Organization estimates that in 2024 there were approximately 282 million malaria cases worldwide, resulting in 610,000 deaths.
There are about 3,500 mosquito species globally.
'Surprisingly high numbers'
Although mosquito-borne diseases have not been detected in Northern Ireland to date, Dr Cuthbert said the risk is "shifting" due to climate change and the invasion of species from more tropical regions.
He noted that mosquitoes are generally overlooked in Northern Ireland, as in other countries with temperate climates.
Previous research by QUB found "surprisingly high numbers of mosquitoes across Northern Ireland."
"Last year, thousands of mosquitoes were collected in specialised traps set around various wetlands and urban sites where mosquitoes breed,"he said.
Around 20 different mosquito species have been found across the island of Ireland, including species known to carry diseases in other parts of the world.
PhD student Ryan Carmichael explained that the MosquitoNI research will provide insights into whether mosquitoes in the region are currently carrying diseases.
The project, which also involves teams from the University of Glasgow and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, encourages the public to submit mosquito sightings through the 'Report a Mosquito' form on the MosquitoNI website.
What can you do to help protect against mosquito bites?
Some experts suggest that the hotter and sweatier a person is, the more likely they are to be bitten by mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are more active at dawn and dusk, and individuals are most vulnerable below the knee. Wearing long trousers, socks, and applying effective repellents can help reduce bites.
If bitten, it is advised not to scratch the area.
Recommended treatments include applying a block of ice to reduce swelling, dabbing the bite with a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and water, or using antihistamine cream or bite relief products.
