Buruli ulcer: Point Nepean Men’s Shed says microbats hold the key
As community anger grows over a Mornington Peninsula mozzie spray plan a group of handymen is working hard on an alternative. It involves a tiny native with a huge appetite for insects. Here’s how you can help.
South East
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A bunch of blokes on the Mornington Peninsula are rolling out the red carpet for an insect terminator that could help stop the spread of a flesh-eating ulcer.
Members of the Point Nepean Men’s Shed at Sorrento are building nesting boxes for micro-bats, which can devour up to 1000 mosquitoes in a single night.
They came up with the idea after hearing about a plan to spray parts of the region with insecticide as part of a control trial aiming to determine if mosquitoes are connected to a spike in Buruli ulcer cases.
Men’s Shed member Terry Phippen said Save the Bees founder Simon Mulvany spoke to the group about the plight of the bees and the impact a spraying program would have on the region’s indigenous bee population.
“Most of our members are right in the heart of the control zone and very concerned about the use of chemicals,” Mr Phippen said.
“They are also very concerned about the permanent damage to our local bees, which are already under threat.”
Mr Phippen said some internet research revealed that microbats were natural predators of mosquitoes.
“There are already microbats on the Peninsula, we just need to encourage more colonies,” he said.
“The nesting boxes will help do that.”
The boxes can be hung on trees in backyards to provide a safe space for the bats.
Point Nepean Men’s Shed president John Stevens said despite a family member battling a Buruli ulcer he was against the plan to spray for mosquitoes.
“The ulcer is really nasty. But I don’t like the ides of using chemicals,” he said.
Mr Phippen said the group had enlisted the help of master model maker David McCausland from Studio 57 F1 in Rosebud to design a microbat nesting box kit.
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“David helps us a lot. He also designed a bird box kit for us,” Mr Phippen said.
Members are already working hard to fill orders for microbat boxes and hope to have a supply ready for sale soon.
Mr Phippen said a price was yet to be set for the boxes.
“Latrobe University sells a kit for $48 but I don’t think ours will cost that much.”
The Men’s Shed aims to sell the wooden boxes at markets and via their website.