Venice wants citizens to attract bats in battle against disease-carrying tiger mosquito

Venice wants to attract mosquito-eating bats

ROME — Venice wants its citizens to attract bats in a bid to battle a tiger mosquito infestation in the lagoon city.

Officials on Tuesday launched a campaign urging Venetians to buy or build “bat boxes” and install them high in trees or on the side of exterior walls of homes.

Venice officials say each bat could devour some 3,000 mosquitoes a night and could combat the insects especially on the Lido, where accumulations of rainwater in gardens and other greenery serve as breeding grounds.

Although Venice is crisscrossed by canals, mosquitoes aren’t attracted to the lagoon’s brackish waters.

Tiger mosquito bites can leave itchy, swollen welts, and the insects can spread diseases such as chikungunya fever.