Mosquitoes
Mosquito management within the Shire
The regular treatment of mosquito larvicide to existing and potential mosquito breeding habitats is a key mosquito control strategy for the Shire. The mosquito larvicide used is VectoBac Biological Larvicide.
Routine larviciding of natural and man-made drains, water retention basins, sumps to prevent mosquito breeding has a big impact on the reduction of mosquito populations. The success of this strategy is clearly evident in Tom Price where the need for ULV misting is greatly reduced.
What is larviciding?
Other mosquito control strategies used are:
- mosquito trapping and identification,
- requesting design improvements to drains and mosquito habitat areas to eliminate or reduce opportunities for mosquito breeding,
- providing input to land development applications to ensure that the end result is prevents opportunity for mosquito breeding,
- participating in the Department of Health Fight the Bite public promotion program
- participating in the Department of Health sentinel chicken program; a monitoring program for the early identification of mosquito borne virus activity.
Mosquito Management Plan
The Shire of Ashburton has a Mosquito Management Plan that provides site-specific management strategies for all actual and potential mosquito habitats within the Shire area.
How can you protect yourself?
It is important to avoid mosquito bites by taking a few simple steps, such as:
- avoid outdoor exposure from dusk and at night in all areas of high mosquito activity;
- wearing protective (long, loose-fitting) clothing when outdoors; and
- using personal repellant containing diethyl toluamide (DEET) or picaridin. The most effective and long-lasting formulations are lotions and gels. Most natural or organic repellants are not as effective as DEET or picaridin;
- ensuring insect screens are installed and completely mosquito proof: us mosquito nets and mosquito-proof tents;
- ensuring infants and children are equally protected against mosquito bites, preferably with suitable clothing, bed nets or other forms of insect screening.
Check your backyard or workplace for habitats where mosquitos can breed, including bird baths, buckets, pot plant saucers, discarded tyres, blocked guttering, unsealed septic tanks and unscreened rainwater tanks.
Mosquito borne diseases
Biting mosquitoes are very common in all towns within the shire. Humans can become infected with a mosquito borne virus when they are bitten by an infective female mosquito.
Mosquito–borne disease relevant to WA are; Ross River virus disease, Barmah Forest virus disease, Murray Valley Encephalitis and Kunjin disease.
To learn more about mosquito-borne viruses please visit the Department of Health.
Mosquito Fogging
The purpose of fogging is to knock down mosquitoes around town when they are most active. This is usually between the hours of 6pm – 8pm.
The insecticide used is Aqua-K-Othrin Insecticide Space Spray Concentrate which is a water based insecticide. The pyrethroid based insecticide concentrate is well diluted in water and as such could be a mild irritant to eyes, nose and throat. For this reason people are advised to move indoors when the ULV mister comes past. The misting machine will be recognised by the flashing warning lights and the noise of the misting fan.
Fogging is designed to kill adult mosquitos and reduce biting and breeding populations. Fogging is considered to be the Shire's last line of defence against mosquitoes due to the range of mosquito control strategies in place to reduce mosquito population numbers.
For further information about Mosquitoes please don't hesitate to contact 9188 4444 or email health@ashburton.wa.gov.au