Terrified families say they are being tormented by a plague of invading mosquitoes - forcing them to stay inside to avoid being 'eaten alive'
- Mosquito plague has hit Sunshine Coast suburbs along the Maroochy River
- Long-time residents describe invasion due to rain the worst they have ever seen
- Western Sydney and parts of the New South Wales north coast also seeing influx
An invasion of mosquitoes has forced some Australians to stay indoors to avoid being 'eaten alive'.
Suburbs along the Maroochy River in the Queensland coastal region have become huge breeding grounds, forcing residents to indoor confinement to avoid being bitten.
It's not the only region being hit with western Sydney and parts of the New South Wales north coast from Port Macquarie as far up to the Queensland border also experiencing an influx due to recent heavy rain.
The worst could be yet to come with March the peak season for the bloodsucking pests.
A mosquito invasion has hit Sunshine Coast suburbs along the Maroochy River (pictured)
A cane farmer who has lived along the Maroochy River for almost half a century said he's never seen an invasion so bad.
'Everyone is complaining about it, Troy Apps told the Sunshine Coast Daily.
'I think we've had such a long dry spell, plenty of constant heat and they can just breed quickly.
Another resident added: 'You don't want to go outside when it's like this.'
The recent lack of maintenance of council-owned long grass land has also contributed to the growing invasion, according to Mr Apps.
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Residents are urged to keep their skin covered and avoid being outside at dawn and sunset
Sunshine Coast Council told the publication a series of aerial control treatments along the river catchment have been undertaken in the last five months.
Their efforts to reduce populations have been hampered by significant rainfall in the so far in 2020.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the council and local area health service for further comment.
The most common mosquito borne diseases in Queensland are Ross River Virus, Barmah Forest Virus and dengue, according to the government health website.
A cane farmer who has lived along the Maroochy River (pictured) for almost half a century described the plague as the worst he's ever seen
NSW's latest mosquito monitoring report says 'very high' numbers are concentrated along river catchments in Sydney's west, including Parramatta and Bankstown.
NSW Health Pathology medical entomologist Cameron Webb told AAP more mosquitoes are to be expected as the rain fills up wetlands and flows into bushland.
Climate change may also increase mosquito numbers.
'It's difficult to predict but on balance more mosquitoes are likely as there's an extension of the season into spring and into autumn,' Mr Webb said.
Residents living in mosquito-prone areas are urged to stay indoors during the peak times around dawn and dusk and to keep their skin covered.
Other tips include to wear pale colours and use insect repellent with diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, which provides the longest lasting protection.
Recent heavy rain along Australia's east coast has added to the influx of mosquitoes (stock)
