What Do MMCD Field Staff Do in the Winter?
January 9, 2023
Spring Update – Cool Temperatures Slow Down Mosquitoes; More Predicted in 2023; Air Work Begins
April 27, 2023
Picking up and recycling tires is one way MMCD reduces mosquito habitat.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District trucks, helicopters, and staff will be out in neighborhoods and parks this spring and summer working to reduce mosquito-borne disease and annoyance.
SAINT PAUL - After months of heavy snow and below average temperatures, a brief warm period in mid-April this year brought mosquito larvae out. Field staff from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District monitor wetlands in the early Spring in search of the first larva of the year. In each of the past three years, the first larva was found in mid-March, but in 2023 it wasn’t until April 10th that larva was collected - during a week of unseasonably warm air temperatures. Since then mosquito larvae have been found in every county in the metro and the mosquito control season is officially underway.
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) will be conducting surveillance and treatment activities in your community to reduce the risk of disease and annoyance in an environmentally-sensitive manner. Each year field staff at MMCD monitors and treats wetlands that breed mosquitoes with a fleet of trucks and helicopters. Many of our seasonal staff begin working in April and residents of the seven county metro area may notice the green or white trucks with the MMCD logo or staff on bikes or on foot wearing brightly colored “Mosquito Control” shirts.
At times MMCD employees may need to cross private property for access to check and treat areas for mosquito larvae. MMCD management asks the community to please stay several feet away from field staff and ensure children and pets are kept at a distance. If you have questions about mosquito control activities or concerns about an employee, please call the MMCD front desk at (651) 645-9149 or visit MMCD.org.
MMCD helicopters will be out over large wetlands where a high number of mosquito larvae are present.
Some of the activities that MMCD may be doing in your community include:
- Wetland surveillance - determining if ponds or swamps have mosquito larvae present.
- Catch basin surveillance - pulling off grates and inspecting neighborhood catch basins to determine if mosquito larvae are present.
- Ground larval treatments - applying control materials to a wetland with a hand spreader or backpack.
- Helicopter larval treatments - applying control materials to a wetland via helicopter.
- Catch basin treatments - applying control materials to neighborhood catch basins.
- Setting or collecting traps - surveillance helps MMCD determine where and what types of mosquitoes are active.
The control materials and methods used by MMCD are regularly tested for safety and only applied when surveillance indicates they would be effective. The active ingredients are specifically designed to target mosquito larvae or adults with minimal impacts on non-target insects. The control materials are not harmful to people, pets, or wildlife. For a complete list of control materials used, please visit MMCD.org.
Scheduled treatments including planned helicopter activity are posted on the MMCD website and on our Twitter page @metromosquito. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District appreciates your support. For information about our programs or for tips on how to reduce mosquitoes near your home, please visit our Resident's Guide.
View or download a PDF of this press release.
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For press inquiries or interview requests, please contact Alex Carlson - acarlson@mmcd.org or (612) 750-9960.
