Mozzies, flies and ants: Flying insects are invading the southeast

It’s not just at your place, flying insect numbers have reached plague proportions amid a perfect storm of breeding conditions. This is what you need to know.

Councils across South East Queensland are combating a plague of flying insects following a perfect storm of breeding conditions.

Not only are bloodsucking hungry mosquitoes and midges terrorising residents across the southeast, but experts are now warning flying ants, termites and flies are also on the rise.

A City of Moreton Bay Council spokesperson told The Courier-Mail they had been informed that due to weather conditions in the past 18 months, there had been low numbers of mosquitoes and flying insects.

Now, however, hot and humid conditions had increased breeding.

“This current wave of mosquitoes is the first for the season, and as they have been minimal for the last 18 months, people will no doubt notice them,” the spokesperson said.

“We have already been pushing out information on our social channels to remind residents what they can do to alleviate mosquitoes around their homes.”

The spokesperson added flying termites are also prevalent at the moment due to the humid and moist conditions.

“Insects generally are on the increase due to the conditions the region is encountering,” they said.

City of Moreton Bay Council vector officers Martin Lightowler and Justin Williams spraying for mosquitoes at Morris Park, Rothwell. Picture: Liam Kidston

Moreton Bay council had received 350 calls in November for mosquitoes and midges, and 70 calls so far for December.

This compares with only 13 calls recorded in October.

According to mosquito control company Green Frog Misting, Redcliffe, North Lakes and Strathpine have been hotspots for Brisbane.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate also said floodwaters and pooling water have made conditions perfect for mosquitoes to breed.

“We will likely see an increase in mossies in the coming days.

“The city continues to monitor traps located throughout the city and will undertake land based, aerial and fogging treatments where required,” he said.

Gold Coast City Council conducted aerial spraying last weekend in various locations around the city, after storms and humidity in recent weeks.

These areas include Arundel, Coomera, Jacobs Well, Helensvale, Hope Island, Pimpama and more.

Aerial spraying under City of Moreton Bay’s mosquito control program

The spokesperson for Moreton Bay council added it had also been installing light traps weekly, as well as conducting on-ground inspections and treatments across the region.

University of Queensland School of Environment professor Sassan Asgari said recent weather has created a perfect breeding ground, with a lot of insects coming out of hibernation phases.

“The recent weeks have seen a fair amount of rain combined with higher temperatures, which is perfect for the breeding of many insects, including mosquitoes,” he said.

Professor Asgari added ants and flies were among the insects attracted to the humid weather conditions.

“Ants are (social) insects... winged males and females emerge in the spring when the weather is right, typically they swarm in big groups in search of partners and eventually to start new colonies.

“Fly breeding is also aided by warm temperatures and high humidity, especially for carrion (blow) flies,” he said.

City of Moreton Bay council mosquito analysis

As Queensland is set to experience an El Nino summer, the hot and dry weather could attract even more swarms of flying insects, with councils across the state set to continue to enact their control methods to contain them.

Queensland Museum senior scientist and curator of entomology Chris Burwell said the masses of ants and termites popping up in the southeast were heavily related to the weather.

“Ants and termites send out winged reproductive males and females who start colonies, and this generally coincides with weather events where it has been warm and then there is some significant rainfall,” he said.

Dr Burwell added that these two species of insects travel in large masses due to the fact that they have to wait for the perfect conditions.

“They sit and wait in their colony and are triggered by the rain.

“The winged ones are then released at the same time so they can breed with other colonies...it is happening all over the place,” he said.