Recent monitoring of adult mosquitoes at the Katherine meatworks indicated that numbers of the common banded mosquito Culex annulirostris were persistently high. An on-site survey was conducted on 29-30 April
to determine the source of breeding as Katherine remains susceptible to a variety of mosquito-borne diseases.
There have been two previous investigations of mosquito problems concerning the Katherine meatworks and the resultant reports "Mosquito Investigations Katherine 13-14 September 1988" and "Mosquito Investigations of Katherine Meatworks 20-22 February 1989" included recommendations for rectifying specific mosquito breeding sites.
The location and rectification of these residual sources of mosquito breeding is necessary to prevent their transformation into major breeding sites once the meatworks resume dry season operations. The current
survey was carried out by the use of adult mosquito traps at the meatworks and a survey of potential larval breeding sites at the meatworks, sewage ponds, Katherine River and the Springvale Homestead tourist resort.