"A radical change": one year after their deployment, mosquito traps are putting a smile back on the faces of residents of Le Cannet

For over a year, in the Cannet region, in the fight against the tiger mosquito, we have been betting on anti-mosquito terminals which avoid the use of insecticides.

"Like elsewhere in the department, it was becoming unbearable in certain areas ," says Marc Occelli, the deputy delegate for the Environment in charge of leading the fight. "Restaurant owners, particularly in Vieux-Cannet, local residents... everyone is complaining. In just a few years, these mosquitoes have become a real scourge that starts in spring and ends in late autumn. To stop them, we first tested a few traps in strategic locations, such as a daycare center and a residence. They proved truly effective," the elected official assures. "And since last year, we have installed twenty of them throughout the municipality. Their radius of action can reach up to 60 meters; they are placed between April and October in several areas of the city that are considered most likely to be affected by mosquitoes."

An anti-mosquito policy that comes at a cost, as each terminal costs 1,000 euros each, without maintenance.

No chemicals, no noise

Visually, it looks like a large box. Inside is a formidable machine that will disperse carbon dioxide to mimic human respiration, as well as an olfactory decoy that simulates body odor, always human.

Mosquitoes can't resist it. They're attracted and sucked into the trap. All this without any chemicals, noise, or odor. The machine also doesn't trap other insects like bees or ladybugs.

"The bins are checked every week, I can't tell you how many mosquitoes are trapped, but the one-litre bins are full every time, " adds the elected official. "And above all, where the traps are installed, mosquitoes are less of a nuisance. However, they must be installed in a strategic location: offset from the living area about fifty metres upstream and taking into account the direction of the wind."

Rémy is the manager of La Maison Bellevue, in Vieux-Cannet, and he confirms "a radical change before and after the terminal." "With the constant presence of mosquitoes, it was becoming very complicated to work, and customers on the terrace were rightly complaining. The terminal was installed last year in the middle of the square, and things are much better."

In this municipality, since the installation of the terminals, "no cases of dengue fever have been detected," the elected official said . "But we must remain vigilant and we are leading the fight on several fronts. In addition to these terminals, we have also installed egg-laying traps for females and we are spreading larvicide in places where water tends to stagnate."

He adds , "The fight must be collective; that's the only way we'll win. In addition to our actions, we're sending out more messages to the public about stagnant water in gardens. And we're inviting Cannettans who can and want to do so to equip themselves with these incredibly effective terminals."