Vectoring in on mozzie control
Published 10 November 2025
- City of Moreton Bay commenced their first aerial mosquito treatment over saltmarshes on the weekend
- The program treats approximately 30,000 hectares of saltmarsh area in Moreton Bay annually and is key to reducing mosquito numbers
- Council’s Vector Control Team have already treated areas across the city in response to recent storms and rainfall
- Residents can do their part by keeping containers, buckets and other items clear of water around the home
Mosquitoes are being swatted away in City of Moreton Bay as the first aerial treatment for the pesky insect took place over the weekend.
Tasked with tackling nuisance mozzies is Council’s Vector Control Team (VCT), who have been closely monitoring rainfall and tide levels which can trigger a hatch of mosquito larvae, resulting in a surge in adult numbers.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said the daily efforts of the VCT were crucial in keeping mosquito numbers under control.
“We are blessed to live in a city surrounded by natural beauty, but we need to remain vigilant about the disease threat posed by mosquitoes and their impacts on amenity,” he said.
“Council’s Vector Control team does an exceptional job in managing those threats on a daily basis.”
The VCT uses light traps to monitor for adult mosquito numbers and using this information to target on-ground treatments. The reduction of mosquito numbers lessens the risk of disease transference, particularly Ross River fever and Barmah Forest virus.
In collaboration with Queensland Health, the VCT also monitors for exotic mosquito species which are known to carry viruses and diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and Dengue fever. This information assists Queensland Health to identify presence of exotic mosquitoes across South East Queensland and decrease the risk of infections in the community.
The team also manages the aerial application of mosquito larvicide which treats approximately 30,000 hectares of saltmarsh area annually.
Tides over 2.5m can be a trigger for saltmarsh mosquitoes, with residents likely to see a mosquito increase in the weeks following a tide of this height.
Rain also contributes to fresh water and container breeding, and residents should be diligent in emptying any vessel that can hold water.
Ground treatments such as the application of insecticide barrier treatments and fogging are also undertaken to manage adult mosquito numbers in high public use areas.
Mayor Flannery said the team frequently collaborates with research bodies around best use of products, testing of new products and equipment and sampling and trapping to identify invasive species and detection of mosquito-borne virus.
“Recently the team participated in a field trial with Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer around the application of insecticide to vegetation barriers for the reduction of midge and mosquitoes,” he said.
Residents can do their part to reduce the presence of mosquitoes around their home by emptying containers, plant saucers and buckets, clearing blocked gutters, changing water bird baths and pet bowls regularly and checking their rainwater tank for gaps.
For more information on mosquito management, head to https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Environment/Invasive-Plants-Pest-Animals/Mosquito-Management