Brisbane Braces for Hot Bitey Summer

After a wet winter and record temperatures predicted for the coming summer, Brisbane residents are bracing for unprecedented insect swarms.  The Bureau of Meteorology predicts an unusually warm, wet autumn and a blazing hot summer, so what does that mean for Brisbane residents?  

Coastal Brisbane

Brisbane’s North Shore, Moreton City and Redlands are tipped to get “itchy” with a sharp increase in mosquito and sandfly activity.

“Mosquitoes and sandflies are problematic because they can travel up to 200 meters, or be blown much further from their place of hatching.  For this reason, effective pest management means getting your neighbours together and doing a “street wide” flying insect treatment” said Keith Jacobs, third generation expert in Pest Control Brisbane.

Urban Brisbane

Brisbane’s retail, hospitality and urban hubs will likely see a rise in rodent and cockroach activity after generous rains and warmer weather has made food and breeding conditions favourable. Commercial operations are being urged to increase the frequency and intensity of their contract pest control services.

Logan and Southern Brisbane

Brisbane’s Fire Ant threat is on the increase and the key hotspots include Logan region, Eastern Ipswich and along the Brisbane river.  Fire Ants are spreading, with nests found as far north as the Sunshine Coast.  Logan and the South West residents should be on the look out for increased fire ant activity as the long hot summer sets in.

Termite Threat

Termites breed most prolifically in warm, humid weather.  With a wet  hot summer predicted, Brisbane home owners are nervous.  Previous warm wet summers have seen huge swarms of winged termites descend on Brisbane homes.  

“You home should be built with termite preventions measures in place.  Before this summer hits, remove any overhanging trees and get your regular termite prevention treatments done.  If you’re buying a property the most important step in a heavily termite infested location like Brisbane is a building and pest inspection”, said Mr Jacobs.

Prevention May Not Be Possible

Brisbane is the pest capital of Australia.  A city densely populated with roaches, rats, spiders, termites, ants and recently, a substantial increase in wasps.  

“Anyone born and bred in Brisbane knows the rules of pest prevention, no stagnant water, no piles of green waste, well-sealed homes, ant caps – and of course ongoing pest control services… but when the insect and rodent problem becomes a plague or swarm, all Brisbane residents can do is continue pest treatments and take fast action at the first sign of a problem” said Mr Jacobs.