Doreen Werner from the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) in Müncheberg told dpa that mosquito species that only developed with one generation per year, such as the majority of forest and meadow mosquitoes, were currently very active.

Compared to house mosquitoes, they were somewhat larger and sometimes more aggressive.

The common house mosquito was also building up its first population, this year two weeks earlier than usual.

The past few weeks had  been warm, which had favoured a growth in the population.

Currently, the mosquitoes needs only one week from the time the bloodsucking females lay their eggs until the next generation hatches. “The season is just getting started,” said Werner.

When asked if a particularly mosquito-filled summer is looming, Werner commented: “I can’t look into the crystal ball.” Because it was so dependent on the weather and temperature, it was hard to predict developments over longer periods of time.

“Mosquitoes like it humid and warm, and if one of these components breaks down, then it is harder for the mosquitoes to reproduce,’’ the biologist explained.

“If there is drought, the insects cannot find breeding sites in which to lay their eggs. Then they fly around pregnant for weeks.

“If it rains and does not get warmer, the development time for building up the population is prolonged.’