Mosquitoes are considered a serious nuisance, with the potential to spread disease. Protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes by reducing opportunities for mosquito bites and breeding.
Zika virus
Zika virus is transmitted to humans through bites of infectious Aedes moquitoes, the same species that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. Zika virus symptoms include mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis and muscle or joint pain.
For more information about Zika virus
download the Department of Health Zika virus fact sheet or visit the
Healthy WA website.
Reduce mosquito breeding
Reduce mosquito breeding around your home by:
- disposing of all containers that contain water
- emptying pot plant drip trays and water kept for animals
- keeping swimming pools well chlorinated and free of dead leaves
- stocking ornamental ponds with mosquito-eating fish and keeping vegetation away from edges
- ensuring water features are continually running to prevent stagnant water
- ensuring windows, doorways and balconies are appropriately screened
- fitting mosquito-proof covers to vent pipes and rainwater tanks
- ensuring guttering is free from blockages and does not hold water
- using residual chemical sprays and electronic vaporizers, where safe to do so.
Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk so it is important to take precautions during these times. Protect yourself by wearing loose fitting clothing, such as long sleeved shirts and long pants, following application directions and using effective personal and environmental repellant - the most effective repellents contain diethyl toluamide (DEET) or picaridin - and reapplying repellant when you’ve been bitten.
Mosquito management program
The City undertkes a joint mosquito management program with the City of Nedland and the Department of Health to reduce the impact of mosquitoes and th epotential transmissioni of mosquito-borne diseases.
The City's environmental health team also montiors potential mosquito breeding sites endeavouring to elp and reduce and prevent mosquito activity.
For more inforamtion contact the City's environmental health services teams on 9237 9222.
Foxes and rabbits are the two main feral animals of concern throughout Perth’s western suburbs.
If you believe there is a feral animal in your residence or local community, take precautions to protect your pets, such as ensuring chicken coups are well maintained and keeping your pets inside at night.
You may wish to submit a complaint,
through
online services. This helps the City monitor and track pest animal movements.
While the City provides advice to assist residents, it does not offer trapping services for residential properties. If a regional concern is identified, such as a fox den, the City will address the problem.
Wild animals are transient and not confined by local government boundaries. The Western Suburbs Regional Organisation of Councils (WESROC) and other pest control agencies tackle feral animals in a collaborative approach, improving the efficiency of feral animal management in public spaces in the region.
Possums can be a nuisance, causing damage to buildings and plants, crossing roofs while moving between feeding areas or fighting on roofs, causing loud thumping noises and squealing.
Rat baiting in an areas where possums may be present, shooting, or harming possums are not permitted. To learn ways to safely and effectively control possums, please visit the
Department of Parks and Wildlife website.
Unfortunately, the City of Subiaco no longer provides rat baits.
Reasons for ceasing the provision of sample rodent bait packs includes a low and declining take up of this service, the potential for unintended harm to native and domestic animals and that the City is not qualified to provide specific advice or guidance in relation to the administration of these poisons.
Should you experience an increase in rodents, it is recommended that you contact a professional pest controller.
If you have any queries relating to this, please do not hesitate to contact the City’s Environmental Health team on 9237 9222.
There are over 3,000 species of ants in Australia, with most active from late spring to early winter.
The best type of control for ants depends on the species, so it is important to first identify the species of ant causing a problem in your home or business. There is a range of effective baits and sprays available once you have identified the species.
As most species of ants are difficult to identify without a microscope and specialist knowledge, the
Department of Agriculture has a free identification service. Once the type of ant is identified, they can recommend the most effective control methods.
For more information on this service, please contact the
Department of Agriculture.
Bees are an integral part of the ecosystem but can cause a problem for the community if they swam or sting people or pets.
Bees usually swarm in spring, from September to November, but they can still be found in summer and autumn. If you have a bee swarm at your property, the most important thing to remember is to no aggravate them as bees usually only sting in defence.
If the swarm has established a nest at your property, you must have a licensed pest control operator or bee removalist remove the nest.
Always keep clear of the swarm until you can have it removed. Do not spray the swarm with a hose, throw stones at it, or attempt to ‘smoke out’ the bees, as this may aggravate the swarm.
Bee keeping is not permitted within the City of Subiaco unless approval has been given by the City.
Should bees or approved beehives cause a nuisance, an owner or occupier may be directed to remove them in accordance with the
City of Subiaco Health Local Laws 1999.
If you are aware of a nest on City property, or if you would like further information on bees or bee keeping, please contact the City on 9237 9222.
There are generally two types of wasps found in WA: the European Wasp and the Paper Wasp.
European wasp
European wasps are about the same length and body shape as bees, with bright yellow and black bodies and all black antennae. They hold their legs close to their body when flying; they fly quickly and do not hover.
Their nests are rarely seen and are usually below ground. Nests are round or football shaped, with an outer covering of insulation. They are large and grow in summer to be the size of a basketball or bigger. The nest will have a busy entrance hole with many wasps entering and exiting each minute. European wasps will often be found around pet foods, rubbish, meat, or fish.
European wasps will sting repeatedly and attack humans. It is hazardous to approach the nest, so do not attempt to treat the nest yourself. Instead, contact a licensed pest removalist, or call the Department of Agriculture on 9368 3333.
Paper wasp
Paper wasps are longer and thinner than bees, at around 15-19mm long. Yellow paper wasps are bright yellow and black; common paper wasps are brown with yellow and black stripes. Their antennae have orange or brown tips.
Paper Wasps are often seen hovering around bushes or over lawns. Their back legs dangle down during flight.
Their nests are often seen and are usually above ground. The nest is a single flat layer of papery honeycomb cells which are usually grey in colour, but often with white capped cells. The nest is usually about the size of a golf ball but may be as large as a dinner plate. They are usually found under fence capping or roof tiles, under eaves and in dense shrubs, or in hollow steel and piping. Paper wasps will sting and can sting repeatedly if you approach the nest during the day.
You may treat these wasps yourself or choose to hire a pest controller.
To treat paper wasps, locate the nest by following drinking wasps back from water. Spray the nests with flyspray, but only after sundown. Remove and destroy nests the next day once all wasps are dead. Nests left untreated will produce more queens to start new nests the following spring.
For further information regarding wasp control, contact the Department of Agriculture on 9368 3333.