SCIENTISTS fear a mosquito that carries deadly viruses and breeds rapidly could soon invade the Australian mainland after the insect was found in the Torres Strait.

A University of Queensland study has found established populations of the Asian tiger mosquito on the islands of Waiben (Thursday) and Ngurupia (Horn).

The insect can transmit both dengue and chikungunya which cause severe illness and in some cases can be fatal.

"This exotic mosquito is banging on our northern door demanding entrance and is most likely, despite our increasing efforts, to gain access," Researcher Dr Nigel Beebe says.

"I would say this is a serious concern."

He acknowledges Queensland Health is taking precautions to stop an outbreak, such as spraying insecticides, but says more needs to be done to stop an outbreak in Australia.

It is difficult to ensure boats travelling to the Torres Strait and then to the mainland aren't carrying the mosquitoes, he said.

"Once on the mainland, the Asian tiger mosquito is highly capable of travelling with humans and establishing as far south as Tasmania", Dr Beebe said.

"We need to be completely on the front foot here, aggressively developing technologies to shut down the risk of an Asian tiger mosquito expansion into Australia."

Unlike Aedes aegypti, the main type of mosquito that carries dengue in north Queensland, the Asian tiger mosquito can thrive in the cooler temperatures of the south.

Asian tiger mosquitoes would unlikely arrive in Australia carrying dengue and chikungunya but could pick up the diseases from someone who is infected and rapidly spread the viruses.

Dr Beebe says an invasion would also hinder the Aussie lifestyle.

"It will be an absolute nuisance if you're sitting outside in the afternoon ... it's a barbecue buster," he said.

The study, published in the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases Journal on Thursday, also found the mosquitoes found in the Torres Strait most likely came from Indonesia, not Papua New Guinea as first thought.