Control Options

Disruption of Oviposition

Experiment by Water Corp

After mating, female midges deposit egg masses on or close to the surface of the water body, an activity that generally occurs at dusk or dawn (Pinder 1995). An extensive experiment by the Water Corporation of Western Australia, designed to disrupt oviposition through disturbance to the surface of the water was conducted from 2000 to 2003 (Vaisey 2005). An extensive network of sprinklers, which were set up at Floreat Lakes in Churchlands, were employed over a three year period and operated from 1800 - 2000 hrs over various summer periods from 2000-2003. Various parameters were measured including a suite of physico-chemical parameters, macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, midge emergence, midge larval density and midge egg masses. The main findings from this study were:

Spray reticulation was not effective in controlling nuisance midges.
Observational studies are required to deduce why spray reticulation was not successful.
Spray reticulation appeared to have no effect on macroinvertebrate composition.

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Updated : 23 June, 2009