We're all thankful for the recent rains, and everything is looking fresh and green just in time for Christmas, but increased rain followed by humid conditions, unfortunately brings out the mosquitoes.
Combat the little biters at home by emptying any still water that has pooled around the house after the rain. Clean out gutters, tip out pot plant trays and wheelbarrows, get rid of garden waste that might be lying around – these are all places mosquitoes love to breed.
If you're heading outdoors, make sure you wear protective clothing, explore options such as mosquito coils and burners and use a recommended personal mosquito repellent containing DEET.
Environment Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said Sunshine Coast Council's annual proactive mosquito control program began as scheduled this season.
"Our first mosquito treatment of the season occurred on 21 November," Cr Suarez said.
"Our control activities are scientifically managed to target specific areas on public land where and when mozzie breeding is known to occur, such as in the Maroochy River catchment and Pumicestone Passage catchment.
"The season starts in spring each year, as temperatures warm up and humidity increases, and runs through until April, when the cooler autumn temperatures take hold.
"Each season we typically conduct around 12 treatments across approximately 1000 hectares."
To date during this 2020/21 season, two aerial mosquito control treatments were undertaken in the past four weeks, with further broad acre treatments scheduled for the coming weeks in both the Maroochy River and Pumicestone Passage catchments to reduce mosquito populations in urban areas.
The control products are approved and regulated by the Federal Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicine Authority. The products target mosquito larvae breeding in stagnant water before they mature into adults.
Council does not spray for adult flying mosquitoes around private property. The control program targets mosquito breeding locations on public land and along waterways to vastly reduce overall numbers emerging from these locations.
