Insect Update – Week of August 30th – Mosquitoes Starting to Appear After Recent Rains
September 10, 2021
Insect Update – Week of September 20th – Wrapping Up Mosquito Surveillance Season
September 28, 2021
MMCD staff had a great time talking to people and answering questions at the Minnesota State Fair.
Results from the September 7th surveillance show that despite end of August rain, mosquito numbers did not increase significantly.
Every Monday night starting in mid-May through September, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District sets out a variety of mosquito and black fly traps throughout the district and employs a network of sweep net collections done by employees and volunteers. Any insects collected are brought back to our lab on Tuesday to be identified throughout the week with maps published to show current mosquito and black fly activity.
As we head into the final weeks of MMCD's active surveillance and control season, we are keeping an eye on how the warm temperatures are impacting mosquitoes and as of the most recent surveillance, mosquito populations seem to be dwindling after a brief increase in some areas following end of August rain. Only a few traps collected more than 100 mosquitoes with the CO2 trap in Southern Dakota County collecting more than 2,000. Most of the district, however, is seeing low mosquito numbers which is common for September.
According to MMCD assistant entomologist Scott Larson, "the number of Culex mosquitoes in the gravid trap network was lower for a number of traps, however one [Anoka County] catch basin trap had over 200 Culex mosquitoes." MMCD continues to receive frequent calls about dead birds and the number of Culex mosquitoes active is still high enough to indicate that West Nile virus transmission is likely still occurring in the district.
Here are the mosquito trap counts from last Tuesday, September 7th:
Fall is coming, but mosquito-borne disease threat is still present.
As the temperatures begin to decline, mosquito populations tend to decrease as well and we are likely to see fewer mosquitoes over the next several weeks. However, the mosquito-borne disease threat remains high with increased risk for West Nile virus along with reports of other mosquito-borne disease in the area. We mentioned above and have frequently pointed out through the past couple of weeks that we are in the peak time of year for West Nile virus transmission. Recently, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported that a horse in Itasca County tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Please help us out by reducing mosquito habitat on your property - check your yard after the weekend rain to see if there is any standing water and eliminate it promptly.
For the latest updates on mosquito control, disease activity, and planned treatments, follow MMCD on Twitter.
