Mosquitoes are a part of our natural environment and breed in both fresh and salt water.
Mosquitoes cannot be eradicated completely, but their impacts can be managed. Simple actions by residents, businesses and Council can significantly reduce mosquito breeding and protect public health.
Managing mosquito populations is vital as many species can carry disease that affect both people and animals, including:
- Ross River virus
- Barmah Forest virus
- Dengue
- Heartworm in dogs.
Mosquitoes at a glance
- Mosquito numbers increase after rain, flooding and high tides
- Removing standing water is the most effective way to reduce mosquitoes
- Council focuses on preventing mosquitoes before they become biting adults
- Fogging is not routine and is only used as a last resort where there is a public health risk
- Mosquito management is a shared responsibility
Protect yourself
There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself from mosquito bites:
- Screen all windows and doors
- Wear loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and enclosed footwear outdoors
- Use insect repellent (not as a substitute for protective clothing)
- Take extra care during peak mosquito activity times (dawn, dusk, and early evening)
- Use mosquito nets in unscreened buildings or while camping
- Use air conditioning, fans, or appropriate deterrent
- Use indoor treatments only where appropriate and in accordance with product directions.
Protect your home and workplace
Preventing mosquito breeding in the most effective way to reduce mosquito numbers.
- Inspect your property and remove any standing water
- Empty pot plant bases weekly or fill them with sand
- Wash out bromeliads and other water-holding plants weekly
- Wash out birdbaths, ponds, and ornamental water features weekly
- Dispose of all containers that can collect water, or cover or put holes in to drain the water.
- Screen openings to tanks, wells, or water containers with 1mm mesh, as this may prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs
- Keep roof gutters free of leaves and debris Maintain swimming pools ( chlorinated or salted)
- Empty children’s wading pools after use
- Ensure Boats, canoes and other equipment cannot hold water after rain.
How mosquitoes breed
Mosquitoes breed in water, particularly still or in slow-moving water. They can breed in freshwater, saltwater, and even polluted water.
Mosquitoes develop through four life stages:
- Eggs - hatch within 24 – 72 hours after contact with water
- Larvae - develop over 4 to 5 days
- Pupa - develop over 1 to 2 days
- Adult - males live for 1-2 weeks, females may live up to a month.
A single female mosquito can lay up to 200 eggs at a time. Even small water sources can support breeding.
For detailed and up‑to‑date health advice, including symptoms and disease‑specific information, refer to Queensland Health.
See a doctor if you experience symptoms of mosquito borne illness.
Council encourages residents, businesses and visitors to use these trusted resources:
Prevent mosquito bites
Mosquito-borne diseases
Reduce breeding sites
Disease specific advice
Prevention when travelling
Other mosquito‑borne diseases
Surveillance of mosquito‑borne diseases
See a doctor if you experience symptoms of mosquito-borne illness.
Gladstone Regional Council has a program to control mosquitoes in the major breeding sites, particularly around the Gladstone area. The program targets both fresh and saltwater species.
Throughout the year and particularly from October to May, Council monitors and treats breeding sites to reduce the number of mosquitoes affecting residents. Due to the sensitive nature of the environment in which mosquitoes breed, only approved, environmentally safe products are used. Due to the extent of potential breeding sites, it is not always possible to eliminate large adult populations from affecting residential areas. Council will record, investigate, and monitor complaints received from the public. However, in some situations, it is impractical to implement control measures.
Gladstone Regional Council manages mosquito impacts across with region to reduce the risks to public health and minimise nuisance, while protecting the environment.
Mosquito management focuses on prevention, early intervention and community awareness, particularly in areas where mosquito activity may affect residents, businesses and industry.
Integrated mosquito management
Council uses an integrated mosquito management approach consistent with best practice and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Mosquito Management Code of Practice.
This approach combines:
- Monitoring and surveillance
- Targeted treatment of breeding sites
- Environmental management
- Community education and compliance support
The program focuses on reducing mosquitoes before they become biting adults, which is more effective and environmentally responsible than reactive measures.
Monitoring and surveillance
Council regularly monitors mosquito activity across the Gladstone Region, particularly:
- Known mosquito breeding sites
- Areas near residential communities
- Locations affected by rainfall, flooding or tidal events
Monitoring includes site inspections, environmental assessments and mosquito trapping to identify species and activity levels.
Larval control (larviciding)
Larviciding is Council’s primary mosquito control method where breeding sites are accessible.
Larviciding involves applying approved insecticides (liquid or granular) directly to water where mosquito larvae are present, before they develop into adult mosquitoes.
This approach:
- Prevents mosquitoes from becoming biting adults
- Is more effective and longer‑lasting than treating adults
- Reduces impacts on non‑target species
- Provides better long‑term outcomes
Only approved and environmentally responsible products are used, and treatments are targeted to specific sites where breeding is occurring.
Adult mosquito control (misting)
Where adult mosquito control is required, misting is Council’s preferred routine method.
Misting uses modern, precision‑based technology to apply treatment directly to vegetation and resting sites where adult mosquitoes shelter.
Misting:
- Targets vegetation and resting sites where mosquitoes shelter
- Has lower drift than fogging
- Provides a residual effect
- Is better suited to residential and community settings
Misting and larviciding are treated as routine, low‑impact mosquito control activities.
Use of spraying (fogging)
Fogging (spraying adult mosquitoes) is not a routine mosquito control method.
Fogging provides short‑term reduction only and carries a higher community and environmental risk profile.
Fogging is only considered in exceptional public health circumstances, such as elevated disease risk or outbreak conditions, and is subject to formal assessment and approval in line with Council’s Mosquito Management Plan and the LGAQ Code of Practice.
Fogging is considered a last‑resort response, used only where other control measures are not sufficient to manage an identified public health risk.
Situations where fogging may be considered include:
- Confirmed or suspected local transmission of mosquito borne disease
- Significant increases in vector mosquito species linked to disease risk
- Advice or direction from Queensland Health
Limitations of fogging:
- Only affects mosquitoes present at the time
- Provides no lasting control
- Mosquitoes can quickly return from surrounding areas
- May impact beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies
- May aggravate respiratory conditions
- Can cause community concern due to visible spray
Community requests alone do not trigger fogging activities.
Environmental management
Environmental management supports long term g mosquito breeding and supporting long‑term control and may include:
- Maintaining drainage systems
- Reducing standing water on Council managed land
- Managing vegetation in higher risk areas
Complaints and investigations
Council records and investigates mosquito complaints received from the community.
This may involve:
- Site inspections
- Assessment of breeding conditions
- Providing advice to property owners or operators
In some cases, it may not be practical to implement control measures due to environmental sensitivity, access constraints or the size of breeding areas.
Where direct control is not possible, Council will provide advice to help reduce impacts.
Shared responsibility
Mosquito management is a shared responsibility between Council, residents, businesses and industry.
Property owners and operators are responsible for ensuring their land and activities do not create mosquito breeding sites, including at homes, businesses, construction sites and industrial areas.
Council supports this through education, advice and compliance action where required
Under Queensland legislation and local laws, property owners and occupiers have legal responsibilities to prevent mosquito breeding and minimise public health risks.
In simple terms
If you control the land, you are responsible for limiting and managing mosquito breeding areas.
Responsibilities of property owners and occupiers
You must ensure that activities on your land do not create conditions that allow mosquitoes to breed, including:
- Standing water in containers, structures or equipment
- Poorly maintained drainage or water storage
- Construction, industrial or commercial activities that create breeding sites.
These responsibilities apply to homes, businesses, construction sites, industrial areas and vacant land.
Council’s regulatory role
Council may take regulatory action where mosquito breeding poses a public health risk.
This may include:
- Inspections and investigations
- Issuing compliance notices
- Enforcement action under relevant legislation and local laws.
Council’s preference is to work with property owners to achieve compliance through education and practical solutions. However, enforcement action may be taken where risks are ongoing or not addressed.
Why compliance matters
Uncontrolled mosquito breeding can:
- Increase disease risk
- Cause significant nuisance to surrounding communities
- Require additional control measures
Preventing breeding at the source is the most effective and responsible way to manage mosquito impacts.
What you can do now
- Check your property for standing water
- Fix or remove potential breeding sites
- Talk with neighbours or site operators if appropriate
- Report mosquito issues to Council
Why are there so many mosquitoes after rain or flooding?
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Rainfall, flooding and high tides create ideal breeding conditions, allowing mosquito numbers to increase quickly, sometimes within days.
Can mosquitoes be eradicated?
No. Mosquitoes are a natural part of the environment and cannot be eradicated. Management focuses on reducing impacts and risks, not eliminating mosquitoes entirely.
Do all mosquitoes carry disease?
No. Only some mosquito species can transmit disease, and not all mosquitoes bite humans. However, large mosquito numbers can still cause significant nuisance and discomfort.
What does Council do to manage mosquitoes?
Council uses an integrated mosquito management approach, which includes:
- Monitoring and surveillance
- Targeted treatment of breeding sites
- Environmental management
- Community education and compliance support.
The focus is on treating mosquitoes before they become biting adults.
Why doesn’t Council fog (spray) mosquitoes more often?
Fogging (spraying adult mosquitoes) is not a primary mosquito control method because it:
- Provides short term relief only
- Does not prevent mosquitoes returning
- Carries higher environmental and community risks
For these reasons, fogging is only used in limited situations where there is an identified public health risk. Community requests alone do not trigger fogging activities. Decisions are based on risk assessment, surveillance data, and public health advice.
Who is responsible for mosquito breeding on private property?
Property owners and occupiers are responsible for preventing mosquito breeding on their land.
What should I do if I think mosquitoes are breeding nearby?
- Remove standing water on your property
- Speak with neighbours or site operators if appropriate
- Report a mosquito issue to Council for investigation
Will Council act on every mosquito complaint?
Council investigates all mosquito complaints. However, it may not always be practical to implement control measures due to environmental sensitivity, access constraints or the size of breeding areas.
For more information about Council’s mosquito program and supporting resources, see:
This page supports learning about local environments, insects and public health. Teachers may wish to use this information as part of environmental science or health studies.
Mosquito species in the Gladstone Region
The Gladstone Region is home to a variety of mosquito species. Some are mainly nuisance biters, while others can transmit disease.
Understanding where different mosquitoes breed, when they are active and how far they can travel can help residents, businesses, industry and schools better understand mosquito risks and why different control methods are used in different situations.
Why mosquito species matter
Different mosquito species behave in ways:
- Some breed in containers around homes
- Others breed in wetlands, saltmarshes or freshwater environments
- Some bite during the day, others at night
- Some can travel long distances
Because of these differences, mosquito management focuses on prevention and targeted control, rather than a single approach.
Aedes aegypti
Aedes aegypti (Dengue mosquito)
Image courtesy of CDC.gov
Where it breeds:
- Containers around homes (buckets, tyres, pot plants, rainwater tanks)
- Water‑holding plants (e.g. bromeliads)
- Inside or close to buildings
When it bites:
- Daytime (especially early morning and late afternoon)
Why it matters:
- Can transmit dengue, Zika and other viruses
- Closely associated with human environments
Aedes notoscriptus
Aedes notoscriptus (Common backyard mosquito)
Image by Stephen L. Doggett
Where it breeds
- Containers around homes and workplaces
- Roof gutters, pot plants, buckets, discarded containers
When it bites
- Daytime and early evening
- Often bites in shaded areas
Why it matters
- Major nuisance biter
- Known vector of dog heartworm
- Common in residential areas
Aedes vigilax
Aedes vigilax (Ochlerotatus vigilax)
Image by Stephen L. Doggett
Where it breeds:
- Coastal wetlands and tidal saltmarsh areas
When it bites:
Dispersal
- Can travel tens of kilometres from breeding sites
Why it matters
- Very aggressive biter
- Can transmit Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus
- Often responsible for large mosquito events after tides or rain
Culex annulirostris
Culex annulirostris
Where it breeds:
- Freshwater environments such as dams, drains and wetlands
- Often associated with vegetation
When it bites
Dispersal
- Can travel several kilometres
Why it matters
- Known disease vector
- Common after rainfall and flooding
- Also a vector of dog heartworm
Culex sitiens
Culex sitiens
Where it breeds
- Coastal and brackish water environments
- Can adapt to freshwater habitats
When it bites
Dispersal
- Can travel long distances from coastal breeding sites
Why it matters
- Significant nuisance species in coastal areas
- Potential disease vector
Mansonia uniformis
Mansonia uniformis
Where it breeds
- Heavily vegetated freshwater environments
- Often associated with aquatic plants
When it bites
- Day and night, especially in shaded areas
Why it matters
- Aggressive biter
- Known disease vector