Bordeaux offers free tiger‑mosquito kits as research flags bite‑attracting colors

The mayor of Bordeaux, Thomas Cazenave, announced a new anti‑mosquito programme covering the city and metropolitan area. Between May 1 and November 30 2025 the region recorded 160 chikungunya cases linked to the tiger mosquito, prompting the city to distribute 2,000 free larvicide kits, expand larval‑site mapping and aim to treat 100 % of public and building spaces. The kits contain biological BTi granules, sand for plant trays and guidance flyers, and residents are urged to eliminate standing water in private properties, which house roughly 80 % of breeding sites.

A separate scientific study published in *Nature Communications* by researchers at the University of Washington found that mosquito attraction is strongly influenced by clothing colour. Red, orange, cyan and black increase bite risk, while white, green, violet and dark blue substantially reduce it. The findings offer a simple, chemical‑free way for people to lower exposure to mosquito‑borne diseases such as chikungunya and dengue.