Final Weekly Update – September 24th – Recapping the 2024 Mosquito Season
September 30, 2024
There was a lot of water in 2024. So much so that our Oakdale staff enjoyed lunch at a flooded park.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Season Highlights from 2024
As we wind down the year and start our planning for what's ahead, we at MMCD review the past season of activity as we send summaries to each community 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!
After three consecutive years of drought conditions, 2024 saw above average precipitation during most of the summer months. A warm winter and early spring led to the first mosquito larvae being found on February 26th, much earlier than normal. Spring flooding and early season rains brought mosquitoes above the 10-year average for the first few weeks of May. Despite continued heavy rains in June and July, mosquito numbers dipped below average largely due to the absence of two of our most common nuisance mosquitoes – Aedes vexans (the summer floodwater mosquito) and Coquilletiddia perturbans (the cattail mosquito). Those species were impacted by the drought in prior years and did not begin to bounce back until the end of the season.
Despite heavy rains throughout the summer, mosquito numbers remained below average for most of the year.
Throughout 2024 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 Was Present in 2024, but in Fewer Instances Than 2023
Mosquito-borne disease was present in the District and throughout Minnesota in 2024. As of November 19th, 12 West Nile virus illnesses had been confirmed in Minnesota with seven of those cases in residents of the District (2 Carver, 1 Dakota, 1 Hennepin, 2 Ramsey, 1 Scott). This was lower than 2023 when there were 63 reported cases in Minnesota. In 2024, there were four cases of Jamestown Canyon virus in Minnesota and 1 case of La Crosse encephalitis, but neither disease showed up in residents of the District. For more information about vector-borne disease in 2024 look for the MMCD Technical Advisory Board report coming in the spring of 2025.
MMCD News Stories from 2024:
MMCD was featured in local news stories dozens of times throughout 2024 with stories about the unusual season for ticks, early mosquito arrivals, tips for reducing mosquito bites, and answered questions about specific species. Below are some of our favorite stories from the year:
Black Flies Were Not as Prevalent in 2024
MMCD employees controlled immature black flies (biting gnats) in small streams and large rivers throughout the metropolitan area. In 2024, 95 black fly larvicide treatments were made to the rivers and streams in the District. Heavy rains in May and June produced high-water levels especially on the Minnesota, Crow, and South Fork Crow rivers, causing sampling and treatments to suspend for nearly a month. High adult black fly levels were experienced in certain areas (especially Scott, Carver, and Dakota Counties) in late May and again in July but remained at tolerable levels for the remainder of the season with the number of black fly annoyance calls in 2024 (41), similar to 2023 (46), but higher than 2022 (11).
Ticks Came Out Early in 2024
The warm winter of 2023-24 made ticks more prevalent than usual during certain parts of the year. District staff found our first deer tick of 2024 on February 5th, much earlier than normal. The Lone Star Tick is a unique species that can cause alpha gal syndrome which makes the infected host allergic to mammal meat (beef, pork, lamb, etc). Lone Star ticks are rare in Minnesota with only 57 reported to MMCD or the Minnesota Department of Health between 2009 and 2023. However, in 2024 alone there were 31 Lone Star Ticks reported as of August 1st. The mild winter is likely the culprit.
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 11,000 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 our booth at Grand Old Day this past June:
MMCD Video Highlights from 2024:
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 open a new window and view the videos. 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 2024
We were active all season long on our Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram pages and we had great interactions with the thousands of people who follow us online. Be sure to keep up 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 2024:
Looking Forward to 2025
There are still a few weeks of 2024 left, but we have already begun to look ahead to 2025. 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, X, and Instagram where we regularly post pictures, news updates, and fun facts. Give us a follow!
We hope everyone has a great remainder of 2024!
