http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/council/documents/Fact%20Sheets/Mosquitoes

FACT SHEET

Mosquitoes (Maryborough Area) GENERAL INFORMATION Mosquitoes are more than just a nuisance, they can be life threatening. The spread of mosquito borne diseases, such as Malaria, Dengue fever, West Nile Virus, Rift Valley Fever, Japanese Encephalitis, Eastern equine Encephalitis, Ross River virus, Murray Valley encephalitis, Barmah Forest virus, Yellow Fever and many other forms of fever, are on the increase the world over. In fact worldwide, mosquitoes transmit disease to more than 700,000,000 people annually, and will be responsible for the deaths of 1 out of every 17 people currently alive.

Only the female mosquito bites. Male mosquitoes feed primarily on flower nectar, whereas female mosquitoes require a blood meal to provide protein for their eggs. Typically, they consume more than their own body weight in blood. Different species of mosquito prefer to feed at different times of the day or night.

Mosquitoes (as well as midges and sandflies) locate you by sight, smell and by sensing the heat radiating from your body. As well as being able to see you with their large compound eyes, they can smell the carbon dioxide you exhale and the lactic acid in your perspiration.

What’s more, they detect movement by infrared radiation. This ability to sense you in three different ways means the mosquitoes can find you from up to 36 meters away.

CONTROL PROGRAM Known breeding sites for mosquitoes in Maryborough and within the Coastal Areas are checked and treated on a regular basis.

Council uses a product called Teknar for short term mosquito problems. It is mainly used after rain within residential areas where there is normally no mosquito problem, however, the rain has caused water breeding areas for the mosquitoes. Teknar is selectively toxic to nuisance and disease-carrying species of mosquito, and provides a biorational approach to the control of mosquitoes, without harmful effects on humans, wildlife, beneficial insects, fish and other non-target organisms. Teknar is ideally suited to use in mosquito management programs in environmentally sensitive areas, due to its excellent safety profile. Teknar is fast acting, giving effective control of susceptible larval stages within 24 hours and is suitable for application to all types of water.

Spraying can be carried out in stagnant and standing ponds, flood and irrigation water, ditches, tidal water, salt marshes, stormwater retention areas, water with moderate to high organic content, sewage settling ponds, etc.

For more information visit www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Council also uses a product called Altosid for ongoing mosquito problems. It is mainly used in the Coastal Areas where there is an ongoing mosquito problem and access is difficult or where re-treatment would be impractical. Altosid contains the active S-Methoprene, a mimic of a naturally occurring insect growth regulator (IGA) that interferes with normal mosquito development. Altosid prevents larvae from emerging as biting, breeding adults with mosquito larvae maintained in the environment, as an important component in the food web of estuarine, salt marsh and mangrove habitats. Altosid products do not harm non-target organisms such as mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, crustaceans or beneficial predatory insects.

The Altosid product comes in small blocks that are placed in water areas and lasts up to 90 days. The block is only effective while the water area exists.

CONTROL YOUR ENVIRONMENT Mosquitoes breed in swamps, ponds and anything else that holds water. To minimise the number of mosquitoes around your home, we suggest you try the following: • Change standing water in birdbaths and rain barrels at least once a week.

• Empty children’s pools and store them when they are not in use.

• Clean out your rain gutters regularly.

• Keep your lawn and hedges well trimmed to reduce shady areas where mosquitoes tend to rest.

• Use bleach in your family pool to help kill mosquito larvae.

• Try to pick a breezy location when enjoying the outdoors. Mosquitoes have a hard time flying even in light wind.

• Wear light-coloured clothing, since mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.

• Avoid using heavily scented shampoos and toiletries.

For more information visit www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au