The Torrejón de Ardoz City Council continues its fight against mosquitoes and black flies with the amphibious boat that removes aquatic plants from the Henares River, where most black fly larvae are found. With the arrival of the heat, the amphibious boat that removes aquatic plants where the majority of black fly larvae are found has already been put into operation, one of the most effective ways to combat the discomfort caused by these insects in the form of bites. The Mayor, Alejandro Navarro Prieto, and the Councilor for the Environment, Esperanza Fernández de Mesa, visited this morning the river area where the amphibious boat is working, which acts on 7 kilometers of the Henares River, from the M203 (located just above the Torrejón University Hospital) and descending past the Castillo neighborhood.
Torrejón de Ardoz, July 9, 2025. This is the twelfth year that Torrejón has a boat of these characteristics, which mainly acts on aquatic plants, eliminating them, which the black fly uses for egg laying and larval development. The tool is very light and can work on both land and water. On this occasion, it will operate for two weeks, now at the beginning of July, and will return at the end of summer, totaling 4 weeks.
It is an amphibious machine, one of the few in Spain, which has the most modern technology brought from Sweden and has a submerged blade that cuts certain aquatic plants where black fly larvae nest, which are found in the riverbed as it passes through Torrejón. Thus, it is achieved that this black fly, which is the main insect that bothers with the arrival of the heat, cannot find the submerged part of the plant, where the black fly larva usually completes its aquatic cycle. In this way, the aim is to reduce the number of black flies that appear during the summer months and thus avoid, as far as possible, any consequences for the residents.
The Mayor pointed out that «in addition to the amphibious boat, we have started specific treatments to reduce the populations of larvae and adult common mosquitoes, trying to prevent them from having a significant impact on residents in the coming months. These treatments are carried out with products that are completely harmless to humans and the environment because they are biological products. The treatments are carried out with larvicides that attack the larvae and prevent them from growing, in addition to the introduction of bats to control the mosquito population.»
Furthermore, the Mayor of Torrejón added, «with all these treatments, we aim to reduce the presence of these insects and their impact on residents, although it should be noted that Torrejón de Ardoz, due to its geographical location, has a river and three streams, which creates a natural habitat that is very favorable for their proliferation. Finally, it should be noted that sunrise and sunset are the times of day when female mosquitoes come out to seek food. Therefore, we must reinforce this fight by protecting ourselves with the application of repellents or mosquito nets, in the case of homes.»
Likewise, the Councilor for the Environment, Esperanza Fernández, requested citizen collaboration, «as it is a very important point in the fight against mosquito proliferation, so it is necessary for residents to keep their pools well chlorinated, avoid water puddles in grassy meadows, keep their gardens well maintained by eliminating water containers, and clear vacant lots, as these are all places where mosquitoes can breed.
For more information, contact the Department of the Environment at Telephone 91 678 95 94 or via email at medioambiente@ayto-torrejon.es