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April 2, 2025
First Weekly Update – May 13 – Mosquitoes Low, Black Flies High to Start 2025
May 20, 2025
For the first time in 2025 drones will be used to control mosquito larvae in every county of the District.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District trucks, drones, helicopters, and staff will be out in neighborhoods and parks working to reduce mosquito-borne disease and annoyance.
SAINT PAUL – The snow has melted, and the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) is hard at work taking preventative measures to reduce the summer onslaught of nuisance and disease-carrying mosquitoes in the Twin Cities. An added tool to assist with operations this year will be more treatment drones that have been added to the MMCD fleet. For the first time in 2025, drones used to treat mosquito larvae in standing water will be used in every county of the District.
Other activities of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) include surveillance and treatment to reduce the risk of disease and annoyance caused by mosquitoes, black flies, and ticks in an environmentally sensitive manner. Each year field staff at MMCD monitor and treat wetlands that breed mosquitoes with a fleet of trucks, helicopters, and drones. 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” vests.
At times MMCD employees may need to cross private property to access and check 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.
- 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. Larval control, which is the most common form of treatment, consists of dry granules or pellets being applied to standing water. 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.
