NSW is experiencing heavy rain and significant flooding, resulting in water lying around. This water, combined with warmer temperatures provides ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
Mosquitoes will lay their eggs on or in still and stagnant water. They lay more than 300 eggs at once – that's a lot of extra mosquitoes. This means there is in an increased risk for people to be infected with mosquito-borne diseases, like Japanese encephalitis.
Reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home or business by taking the following steps at least once a week – Screen up, Clean up!
Frequently asked questions
NSW Health undertakes mosquito surveillance across NSW from October/November to April/May each year. Local councils may also undertake mosquito control measures such as fogging and spraying of adulticides and insecticides in outdoor areas, which can assist in reducing local mosquito abundance.
If you live on a farm, take the following additional steps to reduce the chance of mosquitoes breeding around your farm or property:
The best way to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home is to:
- use insecticide sprays and vapour dispensing units
- install fly screens on windows, doors, vents and chimneys
- use mosquito coils outside in well ventilated areas
- if camping, ensure tents are well protected with flyscreens, or sleep under mosquito nets
Backyard water-holding containers make perfect mosquito breeding habitats because mosquitoes need still and stagnant water to lay their eggs. Take the following steps, at least
once per week, to get reduce the risk of mosquitoes breeding around the home:
- clean up your backyard and remove all water-holding containers, including buckets, tyres, toys etc, and store them in a dry place
- mow your lawn regularly
- empty and wipe out bird baths, pet water bowls and water features
- fill pot plant bases with sand to avoid standing water
- store anything that can hold water undercover or in a dry place, and keep bins covered
- remove leaves in water-holding plants
- clear drains and roof gutters so water runs freely
- cover or securely screen the openings of septic tanks and rainwater tanks.
NSW is experiencing heavy rain and significant flooding, resulting in water lying around. This water, combined with warmer temperatures provides ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
Mosquitoes need still and stagnate water to breed, and some mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water, such as in the water that collects in a discarded drink can. Mosquito eggs need access to standing water for about a week to complete their development, so emptying a water-filled container once a week can stop the immature mosquitoes from completing their development and emerging as adults.
