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Biting Midges in Brisbane - New Brochure by the Brisbane City Council

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The Brisbane City Council has produced a new brochure "Biting midges in Brisbane" detailing information under the following headings:

Is the biting midge harmful?

According to Queensland Health, midges do not transmit disease in humans in Australia.  They are however a significant nuisance.  In particular, the bites of C. ornatus can:

• cause severe itching that can persist over time
• result in open sores caused by prolonged scratching.

In extreme cases, the sores can become infected and the itching of the bite sites can result in disturbed sleep.

Consult your doctor for advice on treating sores and reactions from the biting midge.

What can be done?

While there is no practical way to effect broad area control or eradicate the biting midge, in some circumstances it is possible to take steps to reduce the impact of these insects as well as other marine biting midge species found in South East Queensland.  These steps are:

1. personal protection
2. products designed for a localised situation (indoors/outdoors)
3. barrier treatments.

Biting midges in Brisbane

Until recently, midges have been a minor nuisance in Brisbane with occasional periods of activity from a day-biting species that breeds in leaf litter and plant residue.  However, in October 2004 the serious marine pest, Culicoides ornatus, (C. ornatus) was found along tidal creeks in a number of Brisbane's western suburbs.  Since then, the number of known locations in Brisbane has slowly increased.

There is still much to be learnt about the biology of C. ornatus, espeically in Brisbane.  Based on studies in Darwin and Hervey Ba6y, we know the adult biting midge:

• will travel up to two  kilometres from its breeding site
• is known to move up ridges to high ground
• is active around dawn and dusk
• is most active during spring and autumn but, is also active during summer
• is most noticeable around the full and new moon during this period
• its larvae are associated with tidal margins of rivers and creeks.

While Brisbane City Council has been using environmentally safe chemicals to control mosquito larvae for many years, there are currently no sprays or chemicals registered or available for use in Australia to control midge larvae.  Even if such a product were available, given the very high concentrations of chemicals required to penetrate the mud that protects midge larvae, neigher the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries nor the Environment Protection Agency would approve its use in fragile ecosystems.

What is Council doing?

Given the broad chemical control of the biting midge is not currently an option, we need to learn more about this pest.  To assist in developing a solution, we need to knowL

• what has caused C. ornatus to move to Brisbane
• it it's here to stay
• if it will continue to spread
• if there are more effective ways to protect households, work places and recreation areas without harming the environment
• if there is an environmentally safe way to prevent it from breeding.

These questions are complex and are difficult to solve.  Council is coordinating research to find the answers.

For further information on pest insects in Brisbane:

• phone Council on (07) 3403 8888
• visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Copies of the brochure can be obtained by contacting Councillor Amanda Cooper's office on:  3667 6000.

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