Mosquito management

Saltmarsh mosquitos hatch in the inter-tidal and mangrove areas of the region including Hays Inlet, Griffin, Mango Hill, Beachmere and Bribie Island.

Saltmarsh treatment areas

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Freshwater mosquitoes breed in water that has pooled beside roads, in reserves, parks and residents' yards after a rain event.

Freshwater treatment area

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Container breeding mosquitoes can be active during the day or night and prefer shaded area around homes. They breed in containers holding rainwater including plant saucers, tyres buckets, water tanks and blocked gutters.

Containers around the house that breed mosquitoes.

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Aerial treatments

Council uses a helicopter to treat the region's inter-tidal and mangrove areas, targeting saltmarsh mosquito larvae which usually develop after rain or a tide higher than 2.45 metres. Aerial treatments are often planned to coincide with predicted tide events, although the effectiveness of helicopter treatments for saltmarsh mosquito larvae can be affected by wind and follow up rain.

Aerial treatments target larvae and not adult mosquitoes.

• View the list of aerial treatments undertaken in 2022-2023

Fogging and barrier treatments

Fogging and barrier treatments are used in public areas such as reserves and parks to reduce the impact of adult mosquitoes on residents.

Adult mosquito treatment

Council uses a range of products for the treatment of mosquitoes throughout the region. The key active ingredients are:

• Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis)
• S-Methoprene
• Bifenthin
• Phenothrin

Bti and S-Methoprene are used as they are eco-friendly and work in aquatic environments targeting the larval stages of the mosquito. With Bifenthrin and Phenothrin used for barrier spraying and ultra-low fogging (ULV) respectively. 

You can help reduce mosquito numbers by:

• emptying any containers around the home that may contain rainwater such as plant saucers, tyres, buckets, and clearing blocked gutters
• changing the water in bird baths and pet bowls regularly
• keeping your swimming pool chlorinated
• creating a frog-friendly garden, stocking ornamental ponds and water features with fish
• residents should also consider applying insect repellent if outdoors at dawn or dusk
• products are available from most hardware outlets which will assist in reducing adult mosquito numbers around the home.

Rainwater tanks can provide ideal conditions for mosquitoes and midges to breed. A gap the size of a matchstick head is enough to let mosquitoes into a tank to lay their eggs. Where possible, gaps should be covered with mosquito-proof screen or netting.

Queensland Health issued an alert following detection of Japanese encephalitis virus in Queensland. Japanese encephalitis (JEV) is a disease spread through the bite of an infected mosquito to people and animals.

For more information regarding JEV refer to Queensland Health.