The first aerial mosquito spray for the season will get underway today, with around 500 hectares to be treated across Brisbane’s southern suburbs.
This spray will take off from Myrtletown Reserve and follows recent rain which has led to a small burst of saltmarsh mosquito activity on the south side of Brisbane.
The Schrinner Council activates its aerial program whenever expert entomologists advise there has been a saltmarsh mosquito hatch.
Ground spray teams are also out every week of the year, targeting up to 2400 known freshwater mosquito breeding sites across the suburbs.
Last year, 12 aerial treatments were undertaken between October and March, covering more than 16,000 hectares.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting above-average rainfall for southeast Queensland between November and January, which will lead to an increase in mosquito numbers.
The Schrinner Council has an unlimited mosquito spraying budget that relies on the expert advice of expert entomologists to tackle mosquito numbers and limit the spread of potential disease through these pests.
The program includes the use of spray trucks, all-terrain vehicles, ground crews and helicopters to target both saltmarsh and freshwater mosquitoes.
The aerial treatment planned for Thursday will cover areas including Port of Brisbane, Pinkenba, Tingalpa, Hemmant and along Bulimba and Tingalpa creeks as well as Mud Island, St Helena Island and Green Island.
Residents can prepare for the upcoming season by:
- emptying water-holding containers such as buckets, pot plants saucers and bird baths, to reduce sites where mosquitoes will breed.
- making sure doors and windows, as well as all openings on rainwater tanks, are screened.
- ensuring roof gutters are not blocked with leaves.
When mosquitoes are active, residents should:
- wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long trousers.
- use a personal insect repellent on exposed skin.
- limit time in mosquito-prone areas, especially around dawn and dusk.
- use mosquito coils, lanterns or insecticide emanators.
Quotes attributable to Customer Services Chair Cr Sarah Hutton:
“Our year-round mosquito control program helps reduce mosquito numbers and when our expert entomologists say to spray, we spray.
“We run one of the largest mosquito control programs in the country and are the only local government in Australia to employ two expert entomologists.
“Residents can also play an important role by removing stagnant water around their homes and using repellent and coils to limit exposure.”
Quotes attributable to Brisbane City Council’s Chief Entomologist Dr Martin Shivas:
“Mosquito activity is likely to peak when the heat, rain and king tides of summer arrive between December and March.
“The mosquito ground control teams are out every week of the year spraying around 2400 mostly freshwater breeding sites right across Brisbane.
“We also undertake aerial or helicopter spraying whenever there is a significant saltmarsh mosquito hatch event.
“Every year the mosquito season is different depending on the timing of rain, big tides, and temperature, but with the efforts of Council’s mosquito control program we’re ensuring mosquitoes are managed across our suburbs.”
