Spring Update – Unusual Winter Weather Makes Season Hard to Predict
April 4, 2024
Look for MMCD employees in brightly colored vests or shirts that say "Mosquito Control"
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 - There was nothing normal about the winter of 2023-24. Unseasonably warm temperatures and a lack of snowfall for much of December through February gave way to relatively cool temperatures and moderate precipitation in late March and early April. In early spring, mosquitoes tend to stay in the water as larvae for longer, but as air temperatures rise, they begin to emerge as adult mosquitoes. The warming expected in the coming weeks, means adult mosquito activity will increase in late April and May.
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. 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.
- UAS/drone larval treatments – applying control materials via drone.
- 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/X 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 (651) 643-8342.
