While recent rains were a blessing for drought-ravaged farmers, for city-dwellers it has meant an onslaught of backyard mosquitoes.
The unwanted creatures are now humming across the hunter in vast numbers, with many repellent suppliers struggling to keep up with customer demand.
Despite the lack of any confirmed increase in numbers, Hunter New England Public Health physician Dr Tony Merritt said the sheer volume of the pesky parasite was not unprecedented.
“From time to time we have these perfect conditions for them and it’s no surprise they’re breeding in high numbers at the moment,” he said.
“The larvae were ready to go and the water from recent rains, high tides and now warm temperatures have made it perfect conditions for them all along the east coast.”
During the warmer months mosquitos may only take a week to develop from egg to adult.
Adult mosquitoes generally only live for up to three weeks but during this time the female requires blood from an animal or human to assist the development of her eggs.
It is only the female mosquito that bites.
Dr Merritt said although it was tiresome protecting against bites, relief may be imminent.
“It will settle,” he said.
He added that repellent, clothing and avoiding sunrise and sunset continue to be the most effective means of protection.
“I can’t speculate on what it is they prefer but I think if you’re covered up and sprayed with repellent and the person next to you isn’t then they will tend to get bitten more.
“Repellents are great,” he said.
“Physically cover up, don’t go out at peak times such as dawn and dusk, which are the worst biting times, and reapply if you’re out for long periods of time.”
Dr Merritt said although mosquitoes can travel several kilometres, protecting your home was the first line of defence.
“Mosquitoes need standing water to complete their life cycle,” he said.
“Prevent them coming inside your home by making sure doors and screens are in good condition and check your garden’s not providing areas where water can pool like tyres, pot plants, bins and bottles.”
Go to hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/hneh/mosquitoes for more information.
Meanwhile, our four-legged friends have been suffering in silence.
As we’ve swatted and sprayed the pesky mites to pause their hum Fletcher Veterinary nurse Nikki Watson said we’ve ignored our vulnerable pals.
Ms Watson is now warning Novocastrians of how life-threatening mosquitos can be.
“During these warmer, humid months between February to April, we see an emergence of mosquitoes and with that, mosquito-transmitted diseases to our pets,” she said.
Heartworm and myxomatosis are two mosquito-transmitted diseases transmitted to pets.
“Both of these are deadly to pets.”
Mosquitoes are directly responsible for more than 490 cases of heartworm in dogs in Australia since 2014.
“The larvae of the worm is carried by a mosquito from an infected dog to another dog where the parasite lodges into the arteries of the new host’s heart and grows to large lengths,” Dr Watson said.
“This eventually becomes fatal to the dog,”
Dogs are not the only pets at risk Ms Watson warned.
“Between February and March last year we had to euthanise a large number of pet rabbits due to [myxomatosis] and we see this pattern arise each year.
“There is no vaccination to protect pet rabbits against the virus, however we urge our clients to protect their pets by keeping them in mozzie-proof hutches and keeping them inside during the high-mosquito times of dusk and dawn.”
Written by Rebecca Riddle.
