Redland midge populations a serious concern, residents say

Redland City Council says nothing can be done about midges even though residents claim the biting pests are out in swarms.

Residents from Victoria Point, Redland Bay, Thorneside and the Southern Moreton Bay Islands have complained of unpleasant numbers of the insects.

Victoria Point resident Hayley Cook said she had taken her two-year-old daughter to the emergency department after an adverse reaction to a midge bite.

“The bites immediately (turned) into blisters similar to chicken pox,” Ms Cook said.

She said her daughter had been put on antibiotics and antihistamines and was taking a mild sedative to sleep at night. 

“(It) is concerning, her having to be on so much medication,” she said.

Redland Bay resident Kerrie Matveyeff said her son also reacted badly to midge bites with his skin often taking months to recover from a bite.

“Normally it takes about two to three days to come up and they’ll come into a big pustule and generally turns into an infection,” she said.

“We bought our house last February and basically between the hours of early morning and from three o’clock onwards we can’t go outside.

“If we’d known this prior, we probably wouldn’t have bought here.”

She said her family had spent hundreds of dollars on chemicals, screens and other midge repellents, but nothing had been effective in protecting her son during hours when midges were most prevalent.

A Redland City Council spokesperson said while council conducted aerial and ground treatments to target mosquito larvae, spraying for midges in their breeding habitats was illegal.

"While council also responds to mosquito and biting midge complaints, and undertakes investigations as needed, we are unable to treat biting midge, as midges breed in natural coastal habitats where council is not permitted by law to spray with insecticides," the spokesperson said.

"If these chemicals were used, insects and other creatures that are important to the ecosystem, including butterflies and bees, would be harmed."

Mike Muller, Entomological Society of Queensland president and former head of Brisbane City Council's mosquito control unit, said midge populations varied from year to year and could depend on temperatures and rainfall.

“They can be utterly overwhelming at times,” Dr Muller said.

He said some people, especially children, could be vulnerable to adverse reactions from bites.

“Midge bites are much more irritating and persistent than mosquitoes,” he said.

“(Severity of reaction to bites is) all down to variation between individuals.”

Ms Matveyeff said she was desperate for a solution.

“I’ve read the research and I know what (council is) saying, that it’s not legal for them to do anything, but surely something can be done,” she said.

“We’re not in a position now to sell and buy again but it really does make it hard to live in Redland Bay.”