Sniffer dogs, artificial intelligence, and scrutinized wastewater... Nice is bringing out the big guns to fight the tiger mosquito and hopes for "eradication within 5 years."

A stinging scourge. In 20 years, the Aedes albopictus, better known as the tiger mosquito, has become the bane of our summers, and beyond. Arriving in France via Menton , where its presence was first observed in 2004 , the insect has since colonized the department... and nearly 100% of the country.

Harmful, it is capable of ruining our evenings with its bites ( it attacks especially from 5 p.m. ). "But it also plays a role as a vector, transmitting diseases that are not found in our territory. Like dengue , chikungunya or the Zika virus, which are very present overseas," recalls Christelle Pomares, professor of parasitology-mycology at the Nice University Hospital.

This Friday, June 27 , the scientist was alongside the mayor of Nice and the Paca director of the Regional Health Agency (ARS) to present an innovative anti-mosquito plan , implemented by the 5th largest city in France. Objective: to counter the proliferation of the dreaded "tiger" observed in the city and "to ensure that there are no more mosquitoes within 5 years" , the mayor even hopes.

Here are 7 things to remember about this plan.

In Nice, four strange traps are being installed in the most infested neighborhoods: "Castle Hill, Mont Boron, the port, and Cimiez," according to the mayor. These are high-tech traps designed to count tiger mosquitoes. At the Cimiez arena, one of them has been installed near the snack bar. The equipment releases CO2 to attract females—responsible for the bites. Using a sweet olfactory lure, the insect is then directed toward a funnel.

"Once it crosses it, an algorithm powered by artificial intelligence categorizes its species, differentiates its gender, notes the location and time of capture... Information that is sent back in real time to an app," explains Hamza Leulmi, an entomologist at Rentokil Initial, the company developing the solution. Finally, a net holds the trapped animals.

In addition to a network already installed by the ARS in the city center, Nice is deploying 60 new small "passive nesting" traps. "Imitating a nesting site, they aim to reduce the number of mosquitoes and their offspring," explains the City.

To try to eradicate the pest, the city is counting on the people of Nice. Clearing stagnant water from bowls, covering water reserves, cleaning gutters, pruning... are all part of the basics .

"When they feel there is an infestation, I strongly urge citizens to report it to us so we can take action," says the mayor, who can then order targeted treatments. Residents of infested areas could even be contacted and provided with traps, on a case-by-case basis.

Report by email to [email protected], by phone at 3906 or via the AlloMairie mobile app.

How, during the Covid-19 pandemic , the city government is enlisting the services of Marseille's marine firefighters. Their mission: to analyze the city's wastewater every week and track the presence of potential viruses transmitted by "tigers."

More uniquely, the City, through its Health Safety Agency, is calling on a dog from the National Institute for the Study and Fight against Bedbugs, trained to sniff out... tiger mosquito eggs! "An agreement will be signed to have it used, including in winter when the eggs are dormant," says Véronique Borré, head of the agency.

This Saturday and Sunday, Nice is hosting the "Mission Zero Mosquitoes" cycling campaign, led by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Departmental Health Education Committee. Children in leisure centers, and then in schools from the start of the school year, will also be raised awareness through games.

In Nice, the data collected will be used by epidemiologists and parasitologists at the Nice University Hospital. The city is also funding a thesis on the subject, led by a student from Niger and supervised by Pascal Delaunay, a tiger mosquito expert on the Côte d'Azur. Results are expected in 2027.

Other tests are expected to be carried out in the coming years: "Such as the release of sterile male mosquitoes or those infected with the Wolbachia bacteria, which prevents the transmission of viruses," says Christian Estrosi. In 2025, Nice is investing 190,000 euros in this fierce battle.