Mosquitoes - Don't Wing It
There are almost 100 species of mosquitoes in our region. Many can be serious pests by interfering with outdoor activities, while others can pose serious public health concerns by carrying and transmitting diseases such as Ross River Virus, Barmah Forrest Virus, Murray Valley Encephalitis and dog heartworm. A combined effort between the community and Council can help reduce the impact of these pests.
The most effective way of controlling mosquito activity, in public and around the home, is targeting where mosquitoes breed. By destroying, or disrupting the breeding sites, mosquitoes will be less active in your area.
Thankfully, simple precautions can help protect you against mosquitoes and the diseases they may carry.
- Cover up – wear long, loose-fitting clothing. Mozzies can bite through tight clothing
- Use repellents that contain picaridin or DEET on all exposed skin. Mozzie repellents are your best defence against mosquito bites!
- Use mosquito nets or insect screens
- Use ’knockdown’ fly spray, mosquito coils or plug-in repellent where you gather to sit or eat
- Limit activity outdoors and move indoors if possible
Children are vulnerable to mosquito bites, here are some simple steps you can take to protect them.
- Make sure they wear long, loose-fitting clothing outdoors
- Apply a thin, even layer of mosquito repellent to all exposed skin, avoiding hands, eyes and mouth. Choose a lower strength repellent for young children and babies (no more than 20% picaridin or DEET)
- If your child has sensitive skin (or is bothered by the smell of DEET) use picaridin or apply repellent to their clothes instead
- Drape a mosquito net over the pram, stroller or infant carrier (make sure there are no gaps)
Learn more about how to protect yourself and your family at Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease - Better Health Channel
Council is currently using pyrocide mosquito adulticide to treat adult mosquitoes, the active ingredient is derived from plants.
The product we use, pyrocide, has its active ingredient derived from plants. It is a Group 3A product which has been approved for use nationally by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for mosquito control.
Aside from its effectiveness in helping to reduce the risk to our community of potentially dangerous mosquito-borne disease, this product was specifically chosen due to its short persistence and rapid breakdown in sunlight.
In addition, Council also takes the following precautions to prevent unnecessary public exposure:
- Only using an approved product in accordance with its label for use.
- Only undertaking treatments under the correct environmental conditions, including not undertaking treatments when conditions are too windy or when it is raining, ensuring only the targeted area is treated.
- Treatments are only undertaken when the public aren’t present. Signage is erected while treatments are being undertaken.
Mosquito adulticiding is just one tool to reduce the mosquito population. Private landholders have a role in reducing potential breeding sites on their properties, such as removing sources of stagnant or standing water.
Council only applies this product at times when mosquitoes are most active, which is generally when bees and other helpful insects are least active. Any plants in flower while bees are foraging are not treated. This product is not a residual treatment.
This product is applied via cold aerosol-generating ULV equipment, which ensures the correct application rate of the product is applied.
Upcoming Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine public clinics
Where do mosquitoes breed?
Mosquitoes commonly breed in stagnant, undisturbed bodies of water. These bodies of water are commonly found around the house in places such as:
- Irrigation runoff and puddles
- Septic tanks
- Ferneries
- Ponds and pools
- Pot plants
- Water tanks
- Roof gutters