How authorities are fighting the coming plague of mosquitoes in Melbourne and Victoria

EXPERTS predict a bumper season of mosquitoes after recent heavy rain and floods provided ideal breeding grounds. Here’s what’s being done to fight back.

MELBURNIANS, be warned — mobs of mosquitoes are on the way.

Experts are predicting a bumper season of the stinging insects after recent heavy rain and floods provided ideal breeding grounds for them.

Dozens of councils across the state have already been forced to take early action.

Flood-affected areas in the Murray River region have been worst hit, with Mildura Rural City Council resorting to smoking swarms of the pests out of town with fogging compounds.

Traps have also been set in the area to count numbers and conduct tests to ensure the mosquitoes aren’t carrying deadly diseases.

Bruce Summerfield attacks mosquitoes with a fogging machine. Picture: Tony Gough

MOZZIE INVASION: You’re not imagining it

And now the pesky bugs have their sights on the city, with reports of swarms in the CBD, on the Surf Coast and the Mornington Peninsula.

An East Gippsland resident commented online: “I cannot recall ever seeing them this bad.”

A mother said her children were covered in mosquito bites after a school excursion in Frankston.

The outbreak has sparked a warning from public health authorities concerned about the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.

“The first arrivals are here — and it is only going to get worse,” Melbourne University entomologist Ary Hoffmann said.

“It is highly likely we will see giant numbers of them as we have had a wet spring.”

But Professor Hoffmann said many reports of sightings of “gigantic mozzies” in Melbourne and suburbs in recent days were, in fact, crane flies.

“They are quite often mistaken for mosquitoes,” he said. But he said crane flies were much larger and, more importantly, they don’t bite.

Victoria’s government-funded “Beat the Bite” public awareness campaign, and the mosquito surveillance and control program were brought forward a month in response to the reports.

The state’s Chief Health Officer, Charles Guest, urged Victorians to be prepared and to protect their families.

“More than anything, mosquitoes are a nuisance. However, their bite can turn nasty for the few who get infected with a mosquito-borne disease,” Professor Guest said.

“Most importantly, people should ensure there are no pools of stagnant water on their property.”

Last year, 301 cases of Ross River virus and 11 cases of Barmah Forest virus were reported across the state, with those affected suffering joint inflammation, pain and a rash.

Just looking makes you want to scratch, no? Picture: Stephen Doggett

Beat the Bite: Tips to protect yourself and your family

* Cover up. Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing when outdoors.

* Use mosquito repellents containing DEET or picaridin on exposed skin.

* Try to limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are about (usually dusk and dawn).

* Make sure there is no stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around your home by emptying flower pots, tyres, buckets, tins, bird baths and pet bowls weekly.

* Empty children’s wading pools when not being used and keep fishponds stocked with fish.

For more health tips and advice, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au/campaigns/beat-the-bite

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