Redlands Coast has unique coastal and freshwater environments that provide ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. In addition to being a nuisance, some mosquito species can also transmit diseases such as Ross River or Barmah Forest viruses to the community. For this reason, Council’s Mosquito Management Program targets the mosquitoes that are capable of transmitting these diseases.
The Mosquito Management Plan 2017-2024 provides a snapshot of the current status of the Mosquito Management Program and identifies strategies and potential opportunities for future planning.
Redland City Council's role in mosquito management
Redland City Council is committed to delivering a year-round, best practice mosquito management program that is safe for the environment and for residents, to manage mosquito numbers across Redland City.
Council's Mosquito Management Program involves regular monitoring of known mosquito breeding sites across Redlands Coast, including coastal and wetland habitats. Treatments are conducted at these sites if breeding is identified, with additional surveys and treatments conducted in response to tidal inundation or rainfall events.
As part of Council’s surveillance program, regular light trapping for adult mosquitoes is also undertaken throughout Redlands Coast. This allows Council to monitor adult mosquito numbers and determine the type of mosquito species impacting certain areas, so treatments can be targeted accordingly.
Mosquito treatments
Elevated numbers of mosquitoes are currently being experienced across Redlands Coast due to recent weather events including high temperatures and rainfall. These events, have provided ideal breeding conditions for the saltmarsh mosquito – Aedes vigilax. This mosquito has the ability to travel up to 50km a day, resulting in many suburbs across the city being impacted, particularly the Southern Moreton Bay Islands and southern suburbs such as Redland Bay and Mount Cotton.
Council conducts regular ground and aerial treatments for mosquitoes. These treatments target the newly hatched larvae (wrigglers) of mosquitoes before they can fly, as this is the most effective form of treatment. The diagram shows the optimal time to treat mosquitoes.
Under Council's Marine Park Permit, two chemicals are used for mosquito treatments. These are (S)-Methoprene, an insect growth regulator, and Bacillus Thuringiensis subspecies Israelensis (Bti), a bacterial agent that kills mosquito larvae via ingestion. These chemicals are safe to use, environmentally friendly and only target mosquito larvae.
Aerial mosquito treatments
Council’s Mosquito Management Team have been undertaking aerial treatments throughout the city in response to elevated mosquito numbers. Aerial treatments predominately focus on coastal saltmarsh habitats found along the bayside, Southern Moreton Bay Islands, North Stradbroke Island and other smaller uninhabited islands, to specifically target the Aedes vigilax (saltmarsh mosquito).
Current aerial treatments:
- 14 November 2024: Macleay Island, Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Russell Island, Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island
- 15 October 2024: Macleay Island, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island
- 14 October 2024: Macleay Island, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island
- 22 September 2024: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 20 September 2024: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 13 May 2024: Wellington Point, Redland Bay
- 10 May 2024: Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Redland Bay
- 16 April 2024: Wellington Point, Thornlands
- 10 April 2024: Redland Bay
- 8 April 2024: Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point
- 1 April 2024: Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point
- 28 March 2024: Victoria Point
- 15 March 2024: Thornlands, Wellington Point, Russell Island, Pannikin Island.
- 13 March 2024: Victoria Point, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island, Garden Island, Peel Island.
- 6 March 2024: Redland Bay
- 22 February 2024: Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Macleay Island
- 21 February 2024: Wellington Point (Geoff Skinners Wetlands)
- 14 February 2024: Victoria Point, Wellington Point
- 11 February 2024: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island
- 1 February 2024: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island
- 29 January 2024: Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Russell Island
- 24 January 2024: Victoria Point, Thornlands
- 23 January 2024: Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Birkdale
- 17 January 2024: Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island
- 14 January 2024: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, North Stradbroke Island, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island
- 8 January 2024: Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island
- 4 & 5 January 2024: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Macleay Island, Russell Island.
Ground mosquito treatments
Ground treatments are conducted, in addition to aerial treatments, over the entire Redlands Coast, including the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, North Stradbroke Island and Coochiemudlo Island. Ground treatments are conducted in areas that have limited access or heavy vegetative cover and are not able to be treated via helicopter. Sites are monitored regularly and treated when mosquito breeding is identified with registered products that are safe to use and only target mosquito larvae.
Past mosquito treatments
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Ground treatments:
Breeding sites were monitored and treated throughout saltmarsh and freshwater locations across Redlands Coast year-round.
Aerial treatments:
- 28 December 2023: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island
- 18 December 2023: Birkdale, Russell Island, Lagoon Island
- 16 December 2023: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Peel Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 5 & 6 December 2023: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point
- 2 December 2023: Birkdale, Russell Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island
- 27 November 2023: Victoria Point, Russell Island, Lagoon Island
- 24 November 2023: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Birkdale, Russell Island, North Stradbroke Island, Macleay Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island, Long Island, Pannikin Island, Garden Island
- 2 November 2023: Thornlands, Redland Bay, Birkdale, Russell Island, North Stradbroke Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island, Pannikin Island
- 3 October 2023: Thornlands
- 29 September 2023: Thornlands, Redland Bay, Russell Island
- 4 September 2023: Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 1 September 2023: Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Russell Island, Lagoon Island
- 16 August 2023: Redland Bay
- 9 August 2023: Redland Bay
- 7 August 2023: North Stradbroke Island, Russell Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island, Pannikin Island
- 4 August 2023: Redland Bay
- 19 April 2023: Russell Island, Garden Island
- 25 March 2023: Victoria Point, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 21 February 2023: Victoria Point, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island
- 23 January 2023: Victoria Point, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island.
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Ground treatments:
Breeding sites were monitored and treated throughout saltmarsh and freshwater locations across Redlands Coast year-round.
Aerial treatments:
- 23–24 December 2022: Redland Bay, Birkdale, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Victoria Point
- 28 November 2022: Birkdale, Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Peel Island
- 26 October 2022: Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Pannikin Island, Peel Island
- 24 October 2022: Redland Bay
- 3 June 2022: Pt O’Halloran Conservation Area, Victoria Point
- 18 May 2022: Wellington Point
- 1 April 2022: Pt O’Halloran Conservation Area, Victoria Point
- 31 March 2022: Geoff Skinner Wetlands, Wellington Point
- 25 March 2022: Rocky Passage Rd, Redland Bay
- 18 March 2022: Rocky Passage Rd, Redland Bay
- 9 March 2022: Geoff Skinner Wetlands, Wellington Point
- 8 March 2022: Pt O’Halloran, Victoria Point
- 2 March 2022: ‘Whiterails’ Saw Mill Dve, Wellington Point
- 18 February 2022: Geoff Skinner Wetlands, Wellington Point
- 9 February 2022: Wellington Point
- 1 February 2022: Victoria Point, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island
- 25 January 2022: Wellington Point, Victoria Point
- 19 January 2022: Geoff Skinner Wetlands, Wellington Point
- 12 January 2022: Geoff Skinner Wetlands, Wellington Point.
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Ground treatments:
Breeding sites were monitored and treated throughout saltmarsh and freshwater locations across Redlands Coast year-round.
Aerial treatments:
- 30 December 2021: Thornlands, Victoria Pt, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, North Stradbroke Island
- 13, 14 December 2021: Victoria Point, Wellington Point
- 8 December 2021: Redland Bay
- 27, 29 November 2021: Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Pt., Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 18 November 2021: Redland Bay
- 9 November 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 28 October 2021: Wellington Point
- 17 October 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 03 May 2021: Russell Island
- 29 March 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Thornlands, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 26 March 2021: Birkdale, Wellington Point, Victoria Point, Redland Bay
- 17 March 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 15 March 2021: Russell Island, Long Island
- 27–28 February 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 22 February 2021: Russell Island, Long Island, Redland Bay, Victoria Point
- 12 February 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 30 January 2021: North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 22 January 2021: Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Mount Cotton, Russell Island
- 14, 15 and 16 January 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Pt., Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 3 January 2021: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Pt., Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island.
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Ground treatments:
Breeding sites were monitored and treated throughout saltmarsh and freshwater locations across Redlands Coast year-round.
Aerial treatments:
- 19 December 2020: Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island
- 16 & 17 December 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek) Russell Island, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Long Island, and Peel Island
- 20 November 2020: Peel Island, Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island and Lagoon Island
- 28 October 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Long Island, and Peel Island
- 21 October 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 23 September 2020: Lagoon Island
- 21 September 2020: Victoria Point, Thornlands, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 19 September 2020: Birkdale
- 12,13,14 May 2020: Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Thorneside, Thornlands, Garden Island, North Stradbroke Island
- 9 May 2020: Russell Island
- 12 April 2020: Russell Island and Lagoon Island
- 9 April 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island and Peel Island
- 13 March 2020: Russell Island
- 9, 10 and 11 March 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, Russell Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 27 February 2020: Peel Island, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 18 February 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, North Stradbroke Island (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 8, 9 and 11 February 2020: Peel Island, NSI (Duck Creek), Birkdale, Wellington Point, Thornlands, Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Garden Island, Pannikin Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island
- 29 January 2020: Birkdale, Russell Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Tingalpa Creek
- 24 January 2020: Russell Island
- 14 January 2020: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Peel Island and Long Island.
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Ground treatments:
- Breeding sites were monitored and treated throughout saltmarsh and freshwater locations across Redlands Coast year-round.
Aerial treatments:
- 27 December 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island, Peel Island and Long Island
- 16 December 2019: Redland Bay, NSI (Duck Creek), Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island and Long Island
- 15 December 2019: Birkdale, Russell Island and Garden Island
- 28 November 2019: Redland Bay, Thornlands, Birkdale, Russell Island, Garden Island
- 19 November 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island and Long Island
- 16 October 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island and Long Island
- 2 October 2019: Redland Bay, Russell Island, Lagoon Island and Garden Island
- 3 September 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, NSI, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Garden Island and Long Island
- 9 August 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, and Garden Island
- 12 June 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, NSI, Russell Island, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island, Garden Island and Peel Island
- 21 May 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, Russell Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island, Garden Island and Peel Island
- 23 Apr 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Tingalpa Creek, Birkdale, NSI, Macleay Island, Pannikin Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 19 Apr 2019: Garden Island and Russell Island
- 30 & 31 Mar 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Birkdale, Macleay Island, Russell Island, NSI, Pannikin Island, Garden Island, Lagoon Island, Long Island and Peel Island
- 21 Mar 2019: Redland Bay, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Birkdale, Macleay Island, Russell Island, NSI, Pannikin Island, Garden Island, Lagoon Island and Peel Island
- 19 Mar 2019: Redland Bay, Victoria Point, Thornlands, Wellington Point, Tingalpa Creek Birkdale, NSI, Macleay Island, Russell Island, Karragarra Island, Lamb Island, Long Island, Lagoon Island, Pannikin Island, Garden Island and Peel Island
- 19–21 Feb 2019: Victoria Point, Thornlands, Redland Bay, Thorneside, Birkdale, Tingalpa Creek, Wellington Point, Macleay Island, Russell Island, NSI, Pannikin Island, Garden Island and Peel Island
- 8 & 9 Feb 2019: Russell Island, Thorneside, Birkdale, Tingalpa Creek and Garden Island
- 23 & 25 Jan 2019: Redland Bay, Birkdale, Tingalpa Creek, Macleay Island, Russell Island, NSI, Pannikin Island & Garden Island, Long Island and Lagoon Island.
Protect yourself
While Council undertakes a year-round Mosquito Management Program, during peak mosquito breeding season (November to April) additional personal protective measures should be taken.
You can protect yourself from mosquitoes by covering up, wearing light-coloured, long, loose-fitting clothing and using insect repellent. If regular insect repellent is not preferred, natural alternatives may be available depending on your local pharmacy or convenience store.
If mosquitoes are a problem in your area:
- avoid going outdoors during dawn and dusk unless covering up and using insect repellent
- maintain fly screens on windows and doors in your home
- treat fly screens with a UV stable insecticide
- use mosquito coils or plug-in insecticide burners
- ensure yards are clean and tidy, remove excessive vegetation and regularly empty pooled water from pot plant bases, containers and tarps
- contact your local pest technician for advice on barrier treatments and whether these are suitable for your home.
Reduce mosquito breeding
While treatments are effective, it's impossible to find or treat all breeding locations as mosquitoes are capable of breeding in small pools of water, such as bird baths and pot plant bases.
To reduce mosquitoes on and around your property, empty out unnecessary water where mosquitoes might breed and ensure rainwater tank screens are in good condition. Common breeding areas can include fallen palm fronds, boats, unchlorinated swimming pools, bird baths, tarps and old tyres.
Projects & research
Council is an active member of the Mosquito Arbovirus Research Committee (MARC). The committee is made up of councils across south-east Queensland, Queensland Health and QIMR Berghofer. MARC also has a dedicated scientist who works with local councils on mosquito research and the latest technologies, to better improve mosquito treatments, surveillance and arising mosquito issues of the future.
Please view a copy of Redland City Council's Mosquito Management Action Plan 2019 - 2024 for further project and research information.
Get involved
The Queensland Government’s Metro South Health Unit has another round of the Zika Mozzie Seeker project. The mosquito monitoring project involves community participation in setting up backyard mosquito egg traps to collect mosquito eggs for DNA testing. For further information on the Zika Mozzie Seeker project or to register your interest please view the Metro South Health Zika Mozzie Seeker web page.
Further information
For more information on mosquitoes and the latest technologies and control programs across south-east Queensland, visit the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer website, see our mosquitoes fact sheet [PDF. 0.7MB], mosquito FAQ, or watch our latest interview with MARC Entomologist on treating mosquitoes on Redlands Coast.