Biting midges
The mangrove biting midge, Culicoides ornatus, causes widespread pest problems around the coast of northern Australia. Biting midges do not transmit disease to humans in Australia, but they are of medical importance due to their biting habits. Medical Entomology has developed a biting midge pest calendar based on tide data for Darwin Harbour and moon phases, showing Culicoides ornatus pest periods in the Darwin area. The dates of the pest periods will generally apply to the rest of coastal NT. The calendar also outlines the habitats in which C. ornatus occurs, and personal protection measures to avoid being bitten.
Download:Biting Midge Pest Calendar 2008 (Adobe PDF document - 860KB)
Download:Biting Midge Pest Calendar 2009 (Adobe PDF document - 583KB)
Salt marsh mosquitoes
The northern salt marsh mosquito, Aedes vigilax, can cause appreciable seasonal pest problems around the coast of northern Australia. It is the most important pest mosquito in the Top End of the NT because of its aggresive biting habits during the day as well as the night. Aedes vigilax can transmit Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus disease in the NT. The highest risk period for those diseases is generally December to January. Medical Entomology has developed a salt marsh mosquito pest calendar based on tide data for Darwin Harbour, showing Ae. vigilax pest periods in the Darwin area. The dates of the pest periods will generally apply to the rest of coastal NT. The calendar also outlines personal protection measures to avoid being bitten.
Download:Saltmarsh Mosquito Pest Calendar 2008 (Adobe PDF document - 860KB)
Download:Saltmarsh Mosquito Pest Calendar 2009 (Adobe PDF document - 944KB)