Final Weekly Update – September 11th – Recapping Minnesota’s 2023 Mosquito Season
September 19, 2023
What Do Minnesota Mosquitoes Do in the Winter?
December 18, 2023
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Season Highlights from 2023
As we say goodbye to fall and head into winter, we at MMCD begin to review the past season of activity as we send summaries to each city in the District and prepare the Technical Advisory Board report. Below we have assembled a brief review of some highlights from the past season. Please contact us if you'd like more information about any MMCD activity!
For the third consecutive year the Twin Cities area experienced drought conditions throughout most of the summer which contributed to lower levels of annoyance mosquitoes. Near record snowfall during the winter of 2022-23 brought standing water in the spring, which ushered in a surge of mosquitoes exceeding the 10-year average in late May and early June. Lack of rainfall in the subsequent months led to a decrease in the mosquito population and it remained low through the rest of the summer.
Snow last winter led to a surge of Spring mosquitoes, which declined the rest of the year due to lack of rain.
Throughout 2023 we were appreciative of our incredible staff and support from county commissioners and members of the public. Here are some numbers that summarize our activities this year throughout the entire District:
acres of larval treatments
tires removed and recycled
catch basins treated
West Nile Virus Present in Minnesota Again in 2023
West Nile virus was active in the District and elsewhere in Minnesota in 2023. Testing of mosquitoes this year for WNV returned the highest rate of infection in the history of the District’s WNV surveillance. One hundred twenty-nine of 818 mosquito samples tested were positive for WNV. While most human illnesses have been reported, some are still being evaluated. As of November 14, 20 WNV illnesses had been confirmed in Minnesota with nine of those cases in residents of the District.
As of November 14, illnesses caused by two other mosquito-borne viruses had been reported in Minnesota. Two Jamestown Canyon illnesses were confirmed in residents of Anoka County and Ramsey County. One case of La Crosse encephalitis was confirmed in a resident of Scott County. For more information about vector-borne disease in 2023 look for the MMCD Technical Advisory Board report coming in the spring of 2023.
Big MMCD News Stories from 2023:
Black Flies Were Not as Prevalent in 2023
MMCD employees controlled immature black flies (biting gnats) in small streams and large rivers throughout the metropolitan area. In 2023, 121 black fly larvicide treatments were made to the rivers and streams in the District. Spring flooding caused a slight delay in sampling efforts. After the extremely high-water levels in May, the continuing drought in the area caused rivers to go well below average through September resulting in few treatments after June. Adult black flies remained at tolerable levels for most of season with the number of black fly annoyance calls in 2023 (46), higher than 2022 (11) but less than 2021 (151).
MMCD Was Present at Events Throughout the Year
Education and outreach are important aspects of MMCD's Integrated Pest Management program and we were active in the community this year at many events to communicate with District residents. The biggest event was the Minnesota State Fair where over 9,600 people stopped by our booth in the Dairy building. We also participated in Grand Old Day, Game Fair, several county fairs, and other city events. We also brought our giant inflatable mosquito and our mascot "Vectoria" to several events this year.
MMCD also offers school and community presentations throughout the year to provide updates on MMCD activity and educational information about mosquito, black fly, and tick biology, habitat, diseases, and more. If you would like a presentation for your classroom or group, please contact us!
Below is a picture of the artwork from kids (and creative adults) who stopped by our booth at the Minnesota State Fair:
MMCD Video Highlights from 2023:
Nothing tells a story quite like video and this year we were able to produce several new ones that highlight different areas of MMCD activity. Click each image below to be taken to a blog post where you can view the video and read more about it. Be sure to follow us on YouTube where you can view all the videos that have been produced by MMCD over the years.
MMCD Stayed Social in 2023
We were active all season long on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages and we had great interactions with the thousands of people who follow us online. Be sure to follow along with our social media channels for the latest updates on mosquito numbers, disease cases, breaking news, trivia, fun facts, and a lot more!
MMCD Instagram Photo Highlights from 2023:
Looking Forward to 2024
There is still a lot of 2023 left, but we have already begun to look ahead at 2024. We will continue to inspect and treat breeding sites, control black fly populations, monitor tick activity, educate the public, and much, much more! Here are a few ways that you can connect with us next year:
- Work for MMCD! We are always recruiting for seasonal staff and we encourage you to think of us when looking for seasonal work! Our online application usually opens in February. View our employment page for more details or sign up to receive e-mail alerts about jobs.
- Invite Us to Present! Whether in-person or virtual, we are available to talk about mosquito science! If you know any schools or community groups who would benefit from a presentation about mosquito biology, control, diseases, and ways the public can get involved, contact us today!
- Follow Us on Social Media! We are active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram where we regularly post pictures, news updates, and fun facts. Give us a follow!
We hope everyone has a great remainder of 2023!
