Hi everybody,

It’s me again – your beloved tiger mosquito, Marcy. The new year is already in full swing and I want to take you along on all of my adventures. Did you have a good start and have you made some New Year’s resolutions for 2020? I’ve made a few. Are you curious?

But today I would first like to tell you about my relatives in Germany. Yes, you heard right – G E R M A N Y. As you know, we tigers are always up for spreading out to new areas and there are some cities in Germany that are really amazing. My relatives have done a great job there and our big family is spreading further and further.

The first of our kind began the invasion of Germany in 2015. They were probably brought along by car as souvenirs from holidays in Italy and France. From 2015 to 2017 Biogents AG was involved in a Germany-wide mosquito monitoring program at rest stops along their Autobahn and unfortunately, they detected our intention to establish ourselves. Even though it is still cold during German winters, we tiger mosquitoes can adapt to these conditions and this is our number 1 New Year’s resolution for 2020. After Heidelberg and the community gardens in Freiburg, we made our way through Karlsruhe and Frankfurt to Fürth and Munich. Admittedly it took a few years, but nobody’s perfect! So, our second New Year’s resolution is to thrive this year and to continue to show consistency and assertiveness. It is not so easy, but I am sure that my extended family in Europe will do a good job. All good things come in threes, so our third resolution is to travel more and conquer the world. Um, I mean explore, of course.

I personally would also like to participate in the progressive dispersal efforts of the tiger mosquito and I am already planning my first trip to the Bavarian capital Munich - first by ship to France and then by train. Actually, I am totally into warmer climates and that's where global warming comes in handy. On the other hand, it gives me a chance to get a glimpse of France. People say that in Munich they have the best pretzels and the best beer in the world! There are also big festivals including the famous Oktoberfest - which actually occurs in September. Imagine that. A meadow filled with thousands of people. You can't imagine that in your best dreams - delicious. I get hungry just thinking about this.

What do you think? What are the chances of expanding our population this year? Will you provide us with regular blood meals and help us? And please accumulate water in your backyards – we need places to lay our eggs!

Hungry greetings from your

Marcy

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