“We have always had mosquito problems here, explains Mayor Kévin Subrenat, but before, the inhabitants could manage them individually. It is now impossible. Because we let the marshes become impoverished, abandoned, causing the multiplication of stagnant water while causing a decrease in the surrounding fauna and flora. As a result, fewer predators or animals to bite. Diptera can attack more intensely those who remain in place: humans.
Thomas and Hadrien, two agents from the Bordeaux Métropole Mosquito Control Center.
J.-C. G.
Red areas
In 2014, a “shock treatment” by helicopter did solve the bulk of the problem, offering a little peace of mind to the people of Ambés… for two or three years. But the operation, considered not very ecological, was not renewed. The Mosquito Control Center of Bordeaux Métropole, with its arsenal which includes in particular kinds of bomber drones, has been responsible for two years to limit the proliferation of undesirables as much as possible.
“It is illusory to aspire to ‘zero mosquitoes’ and that would not be the solution, it would go against biodiversity”
In mainland France, and especially in Ambès, treatments have started. “We are talking more about population regulation, book Christophe Courtin. But it is illusory to aspire to “zero mosquitoes” and that would not be the solution, it would go against biodiversity. »
The metropolis has its red zones, conducive to the proliferation of larvae and, therefore, to the multiplication of mosquitoes. Certain sectors of Villenave-d’Ornon are particularly affected by the wetlands of the neighboring town of Cadaujac. Pessac (in Toctoucau, in particular) or Mérignac are also home to forest areas that are favorable to them – “everything that corresponded to very old lagoons”, specifies Christophe Courtin. But, untouchable in this area, the peninsula remains at the top of the places where there is the highest risk of being pumped a little blood.
Christophe Courtin (in the foreground), responsible for coordinating the Mosquito Control Center, here in a marsh in Ambès.
J.-C. G.
Major project in sight
Nestled between Garonne and Dordogne, Ambès therefore wishes to work in the long term by working on the hydraulic network of its marshes. “We are aware of a problem on around 300 hectares”, indicates Jean-Pierre Mazzon, first deputy mayor, in charge of town planning and the environment. “As the secondary network is clogged, it blocks the primary network. » The water stops flowing and remains stagnant. A small paradise for the formation of future insects. “There, it is a hundred hectares belonging to EDF, shows the elected official on the side of the departmental road. Our difficulty is to push the company to clean up these lands. We sent him letters, formal notices but it did not move forward. We are going to be forced to force them to do so because we are talking about hygiene here…”
In its fight against mosquito dens, the municipality nevertheless learned good news a few days ago with the declaration of general interest by the prefecture of the rehabilitation of the primary hydraulic network of the peninsula. In particular, this should give birth, in the coming months, to the creation of a long ditch to partially evacuate the water from the marshes in a red and inaccessible zone. The cost of the project is around 1 million euros and would be financed by Bordeaux Métropole and the Barnier State fund, according to Kévin Subrenat. Tenders could be launched in the coming weeks.
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