Council doubles mosquito program

Rockingham City Council has expanded its aerial spraying program for mosquitoes in response to increased numbers of the biting insects due to higher tides and prolonged warm weather.

Last month the Department of Health warned residents to cover up and avoid mosquito-prone areas, especially in the early afternoon, after an increase in the number of residents contracting Ross River virus compared with last year.

Earlier this month, medical entomologist Sue Harrington said since last July there had been 18 cases of the disease in Rockingham and 16 cases in Kwinana.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the council had more than doubled its spraying program, carrying out 16 aerial larviciding treatments this season in comparison with seven the previous season.

Cr Sammels said Karnup, Secret Harbour, Golden Bay and Singleton had been most affected by the increase in mosquito numbers.

He said the council regularly monitored mosquito activity during the peak breeding season between August and April.

‘‘Mosquito larval monitoring is conducted along the flood plains of the Serpentine River, to identify the extent and locations of breeding sites,’’ he said.

‘‘Adult mosquito monitoring is also done to collect data the numbers of adults in particular areas.’’

Rockingham is part of the Peel Mosquito Management Group, which conducts regular aerial larviciding with the aim of reducing the mosquito population before they emerge in pest numbers as adults.

Despite more complaints about mosquitoes from residents in some suburbs including Wellard, the Kwinana Town Council said its year round monitoring results were consistent with figures from the past three years.

Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said additional monitoring had not shown a major increase in the number of mosquito species present.