Mosquito Control

Mosquitoes can pose a nuisance and serious health risk to the community by transmitting Ross River and Barmah Forest Viruses. 

The City of Busselton has a comprehensive mosquito management program in place involving monitoring, treatment and communication activities.  These activities occur annually with the mosquito season commencing in August and concluding in January.

Monitoring

Monitoring activities include:

• Visually checking and counting the larvae numbers in wetlands and salt marshes throughout the City.
• Setting carbon dioxide and light traps to catch and count the number of adult mosquitoes present. 

Treatment

When the City detects significant numbers of mosquito larva and adults, treatment activities will be undertaken. These may include:

• Aerial application of non-toxic larvicide, using a helicopter directly into the targeted wetlands that specifically targets mosquito larvae.  The helicopter may on occasions be seen flying low near residential areas close to wetlands.
• The larvicide used is a naturally occurring soil bacterium, formulated into a granule using corn cob grit. It is designed to target mosquito larvae only.
• The larvicide is applied directly into major breeding sites, being the waterlogged fringing vegetation of coastal wetlands. It is not applied to land and is not toxic to humans or other aquatic life.
• Hand application of larvicide in targeted stagnant water bodies.

Community

While treatment activities reduce mosquito numbers, mosquitoes are a fact of life in the South West.  Not being bitten is the best way to protect yourself from mosquito borne illnesses

You can 'Fight the Bite' by applying a personal repellent containing DEET or picaridin on any exposed skin, wear loose-fitting long sleeve shirts and long pants.

How to Repel or Control Mosquitoes around Your Home

At different times of the year you may find mosquitoes around your home. Here are some ways to reduce the number of mosquitos around your property and in your home:

• Install fly screens in outdoor sitting areas
• Use a fan to create a change in air pressure
• Turn off lights and change to yellow or low fluorescence globes
• Reduce garden foliage
• Use mosquito coils, lamps or bug zappers
• Apply a residual insecticide to outside areas
• Remove standing water e.g. clean gutters and empty water holding containers

Related Information

Mosquito Information Sheet

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