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Date Published: 08/04/2025

Orihuela takes action to tackle mosquito problem across the municipality

The plan is to target waterlogged areas and riverside zones to control mosquito infestations

Orihuela City Council has promised to invest heavily over the next few years to combat the growing problem of mosquitoes across the municipality, with a new pest control contract worth more than half a million euros now open for bids.

The contract, currently out to tender, is worth a base price of €402,500 and will run for an initial term of three years. There’s also an option to extend the deal for up to two more years, bringing the potential total to €554,540.

The Council’s Department of the Environment will lead the project, focusing on prevention and control of mosquito and chironomid (a type of non-biting midge) populations. The aim is to deal with infestations before they get out of hand and improve residents’ quality of life.

Councillor for the Environment, Noelia Grao, explained that the contract is designed to cover “all possible areas or hotspots where there may be the potential for the development of an infestation or excessive accumulation of both types of mosquito”.

Grao also explained that while the focus is on known problem areas, the plan will remain flexible. “This doesn’t rule out additional action if other mosquito species are detected that might pose a problem,” she said.

The work will focus on areas across Orihuela and will centre on zones with stagnant water – particularly irrigation ditches, ravines, gullies and fountains – as these are prime breeding grounds. Teams will also target the Segura River, including its riverbed and banks, along with green spaces and rural zones where adult mosquitoes tend to shelter. In addition, the plan covers locations where adult mosquitoes may take shelter, such as pavements, parks, scattered housing areas, roadsides and farmhouses.

The aim is to reduce mosquito activity and limit the impact on daily life for residents. “These organisms appear cyclically throughout the municipality, and their presence affects the quality of life of our neighbours,” Grao said.

The move comes as other parts of the region are also stepping up their pest control efforts. Nearby Cartagena, for example, recently increased its campaign against pine processionary caterpillars, another seasonal threat affecting pets and people alike.

Orihuela Council says the goal is simple: to reduce the recurring presence of these pests and ease the burden they place on daily life for locals, especially during warmer months when infestations are more likely.

The pest control contract is currently in the bidding phase and will cover the entire municipality for the duration of its term.

Image: Jimmy Chan/Pexels

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