Weekend king tide may see mosquito numbers peak
Date published: 22 January 2016
A king tide tomorrow morning may see saltmarsh mosquito numbers increase during the week, with council urging residents to take precautions to avoid being bitten.
Staff will conduct ground treatments tomorrow and will assess the need for aerial spraying after the high tide recedes.
Ground treatments will be done in southern suburbs including Railway Estate, South Townsville and Oonoonba, as well as Rowes Bay.
Healthy and Safe City Committee chair Cr Gary Eddiehausen urged residents to take precautions such as covering up outside, wearing loose-fitting clothing, lighting mozzie coils and using repellent.
“Saltmarsh mosquitos are aggressive biters and their activity usually peaks around the dawn to dusk period,” Cr Eddiehausen said.
Council conducted aerial spraying and ground treatments over the Christmas and New Year period and again on January 12 – the last king tide.
“The combination of recent rain and tidal events have caused higher numbers to hatch, so council staff are on the ground and in the air keeping numbers under control,” Cr Eddiehausen said.
