Mosquitoes, Vermin & Insects

Some types of animals can be harmful to human health or contribute to disease in humans, and in certain situations can cause a public health risk. Council has some jurisdiction to act on certain public health risks associated with designated pests under the Public Health Act 2005 (the Act), and also shares some responsibility of public health risks with other Government bodies.

Rats, mice and mosquitoes are all designated pests under the Act, and in certain situations are, or are likely to be hazardous to human health, or contribute to, or are likely to contribute to disease in humans or the transmission of an infectious condition to humans.

Council can investigate complaints made about pest harborage, or possible pest harbourage scenario, as well as complaints regarding breeding areas or areas liekly to be come a breed ground for such pests.

Your neighbour may not be aware they are causing a nuisance. The best way to resolve such issue with a neighbour is to approach them with your concerns and try and work together to resolve the problem. If this doesn’t work after a period of time, you can raise the issue with Council or the appropriate authority.

Types of Mosquitoes

There are a number of different mosquitoes that can impact you, your family and your pets.

The predominant mosquitoes on the Southern Downs are:

Culex annulirostris (freshwater breeding mosquitoes)
- breed after rainfall
Aedes notoscriptus (container breeding mosquitoes – usual habitat is the home garden & containers

Although the Culex mosquito lives only for a few weeks the adult mosquito can travel up to 5-10km to feed, with females returning to water to lay her eggs. During the warmer months, the water temperature rises and this rapidly increases the speed at which larvae grow, resulting in an egg becoming an adult mosquito in just five to six days.

Where Mosquitoes Breed

Culex annulirostris (Freshwater):

Breeding will occur after rainfall
Shallow freshwater pools
Grassy drains and depressions
Rural areas such as ponded waters and dams

They are generally active from mid-spring to late autumn, they feed readily on humans but also other animals and birds. They are generally nuisance biters around sunset
Freshwater breeding mosquitos are a carrier of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses in Queensland. Other freshwater breeding mosquitoes can also carry these viruses, as well as heartworm, which effects cats and dogs. Landowners are responsible for managing of the control of mosquitoes on their land.

Aedes notoscriptus (Container-breeding mosquitoes) are the major domestic pest species in southeastern Australia, and they like to breed in:

• natural containers such as tree cavities and bromeliads
• made containers such as pot plant saucers, bird baths, discarded tyres, garden rubbish, roof gutters, unmaintained, unchlorinated swimming pools, poorly maintained rainwater tanks.
Adult container-breeding mosquitoes lay their eggs above the water line in containers. The eggs remain dormant until rain or watering fills these containers, triggering the eggs to hatch into larvae.
Adult mosquitoes will be abundant about a week after this happens. This species also occurs in winter in well-watered gardens and can transmit heartworm to pets. Control of this species requires property owners to be aware of breeding sites and remove or manage them.
Aedes notoscriptus readily attack during the day in shaded areas, but also feed during the evening, night and in the early morning.

Avoid Getting Bitten

Help keep these mosquitoes out of our region by remembering that anything around your property that can fill with water is a potential breeding site. Protect yourself and your household.
You can protect yourself by:
• limiting your time in mosquito-prone areas, especially around dawn and dusk
• wearing loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing with long sleeves and long trousers
• using a personal insect repellent containing picaridin or DEET on exposed skin
• screening doors and windows or using air conditioning
• sleeping under a mosquito bed net
• using mosquito coils, lanterns and insecticide eminators
• switching on a fan as the airflow produced will help keep mosquitoes away
• Removing potential breeding sites
• managing containers which can become water-filled around your property
• screening and maintaining your rainwater tanks.
Council does not provide mosquito fogging services.

Land owners and occupiers are required by law to control pests on their land.

Rats and mice are not only a nuisance, they can carry and transmit diseases to humans.

Council officers investigate complaints about rodent breeding sites and can issue notices to residents or owners of properties as required.

The Public Health Act 2005 makes it illegal to allow rodent breeding on your property.

To report rodent-breeding sites, please contact Council.