Pests Around Outdoor Entertaining Areas
Decks, patios and verandahs are central to Brisbane living — and to mosquitoes, spiders around lights and wasps at the drinks table.
Updated 20 September 2026
Lighting
Outdoor lights attract insects, which attract spiders and flying cockroaches. Use warm-coloured bulbs and position lights away from doors.
Before an event
- Tip out water around the yard a week ahead.
- Check eaves and pergolas for wasp nests.
- Use fans on the deck — mosquitoes are weak flyers.
- Keep food and drinks covered, and clear plates promptly to reduce house flies and blowflies.
- Keep bins lidded and away from the entertaining area. See why there are suddenly lots of flies.
Related PestMan Answers
Pest information
Mosquitoes
Small biting flies that breed in still water. Beyond itchy bites, some Australian mosquitoes spread viruses such as Ross River virus, so reducing bites and breeding sites matters.
Spiders
Eight-legged predators that feed on insects. Most household spiders are harmless and useful, but a few Australian species, such as redbacks and funnel-webs, need to be treated with care.
Wasps
Stinging insects that build paper nests under eaves, in shrubs, walls or the ground. Paper wasps are common across Australia; the invasive European wasp is a serious pest in southern states.
Cockroaches
Fast, flat-bodied insects that hide in warm, damp gaps and come out at night to feed. A few introduced species cause most household problems in Australia.
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Sources & further reading
- Queensland Health — mosquito-borne disease and environmental health — Queensland Health
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