The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is using innovative methods to tackle a hidden underground risk at Brisbane International Airport – a potential exotic mosquito breeding site.
The department’s Vector Monitoring Program (VMP) is trialling new Hamer traps over an underground drain at the airport to identify potential larval habitats for Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes – insects that spread diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus.
Acting Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance Beth Cookson said the surveillance tool is a step forward in preventing harmful mosquito populations from establishing in inaccessible places.
“Exotic mosquitoes pose a serious risk to public health,” Beth Cookson said.
“They typically enter Australia via baggage and cargo containers carried in aircraft arriving from overseas and can potentially breed in the vicinity of airports.”
“We are working hard to ensure they do not become established in these border areas.”
The Hamer trap comprises a fine mesh cone with a smaller cylindrical collection cup attached on top.
Placed over a drain gate, the traps capture insects as they emerge from their drain dwelling into the daylight above.
The device was invented in the USA to help counter the spread of mosquitoes carrying the deadly West Nile virus.
After learning about this trap during a recent trip to the US, VMP Assistant Director Kyran Staunton sought to test the Hamer’s potential in Australia.
“The trial will continue through to summer as mosquitoes are generally less active in winter,” Beth Cookson said.
“So far the preliminary results are promising with several domestic mosquitoes captured demonstrating suitability of the site for exotic mosquitoes.”
Other trap designs used by the VMP team include fan-powered suction traps and larvae-collecting tyre traps.
Following the trial, the Hamer traps could be added to the VMP team’s arsenal to help identify more out-of-sight locations requiring treatment to prevent harmful mosquitoes coming to Australia.
