MMCD F.A.Q.

Where can I buy those control materials?

Our control materials and formulations are designed for use by professional applicators and are quite expensive. Bti is available in various forms at home and garden or farm supply stores. We strongly recommend that citizens contact MMCD first to evaluate their wetlands for mosquito breeding potential. Not all wetlands produce mosquitoes, and treating one small site in your yard won’t do much good if there are other untreated breeding sites nearby.

What about using (bats, birds, citronella plants, bug zappers, etc) to control mosquitoes?

Ultraviolet (black light) electric traps, or bug zappers, are not effective in reducing mosquito annoyance. One study found that mosquitoes comprised only 6.4% of the insects in a five day catch, and only about half of the mosquitoes killed were blood-feeding females. Furthermore, these traps kill large numbers of non-pest insects such as beetles and moths. These insects are beneficial as part of the food chain, and some are natural biological controls on other insect pests. Devices that claim to repel mosquitoes using high-frequency sound waves are ineffective. Numerous studies have shown that these products have little or no effect on mosquitoes. Citronella plants also have not been proven to effectively repel mosquitoes. Many people believe that erecting purple martin and bat houses will reduce mosquito populations. However, in-depth studies have shown that mosquitoes comprise no more than 0 to 3% of the diet of purple martins. Likewise, bats are opportunists and will eat a variety of insects. They may eat mosquitoes but will also prey on beetles, moths, leafhoppers, wasps, flies, mayflies, and grasshoppers. They will most likely feed on whatever is most numerous and easiest to catch, and if necessary will travel far from their roosting sites in search of prey. Martins and bats will consume mosquitoes, but are not likely to significantly reduce the population. They should be protected and encouraged because they are interesting residents of the natural environment, not because of their ability to control pest populations.

What are your helicopters doing? What are they dropping?

We use helicopters to treat large wetlands that we can't treat by ground. Our helicopters never drop liquid chemicals; our primary treatment materials, methoprene and bti, pose no significant health risk even when ingested. Read more about helicopter activity here.

Do I have to pay for your services?

Technically, yes. Our funding comes entirely from our status as a special taxing district, and no additional charge is made for any of our services. As of September 2024, we estimate that an average household pays $10.79 per year for mosquito control.

I don't like what you're doing. Can I say no?

Yes, you can say no. We do have the authority to enter private property to respond to the threat of mosquito-borne disease, but the District has rarely had to invoke this authority. We can also provide a variety of special responses for citizens. For example, we may be able to establish a buffer around a residence where someone has an allergy to aerosols, or we can notify them before we use the helicopter near their property. If you have questions or concerns, call the Main Office at 651-645-9149.

Why don't you do more where I live?

MMCD has divided the Metro Area into two “priority zones.” Priority Zone 1 encompasses most of the population; Priority Zone 2 is the less populated area surrounding Zone 1. As a public health organization, we prioritize our limited resources to reach the areas with the greatest population density first. We periodically adjust the zone boundaries to keep up with changes in population. For specific information about what’s being done around your property, call the Main Office at 651-645-9149.

What can I do around my house (or cabin) to keep the mosquitoes down?

Consult our Resident's Guide.

Should I be worried about West Nile Virus?

West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted by mosquitoes, and by the end of 2004 it had spread over much of the country. It was detected in Minnesota for the first time in 2002. In 2003 there were 148 human cases of WNV in Minnesota, with four deaths, and in 2004 there were 34 human cases with no deaths. As of the end of 2013, 2,374 cases of West Nile illness had been reported to the CDC. Seventy-nine of those were Minnesota cases, three of which were fatal. Most people who are infected will not experience any symptoms, or may experience flu-like symptoms (West Nile fever) and then recover. In rare cases, the virus may cause West Nile encephalitis with severe symptoms requiring hospitalization. While WNV can affect anyone, risk increases with age. People over 50 are at higher risk to develop serious symptoms. WNV is here to stay, and MMCD and the Minnesota Department of Health are prepared to do surveillance for the virus and to respond in the event of an outbreak. There is still much to learn about WNV, and we are working in cooperation with agencies and research facilities across North America to find out the best way to deal with it. There is a vaccine available for horses, and we recommend that horse owners consult with their veterinarian. People can reduce their risk of infection simply by reducing their exposure to mosquito bites.

There is currently no wide-scale economical and environmentally sound way to control ticks. There are repellants for humans and your veterinarian or farm supply store can recommend repellants for animals. Repellants, wearing light-colored clothing, and avoiding their habitat are the best way for people to avoid ticks. MMCD monitors deer ticks in the metro area, advises homeowners on landscaping and small scale tick control techniques, helps educate the public about Lyme disease, and offers free tick identification, but we don’t control deer ticks.

How can I control ticks in my own yard?

Reducing excess brush and cutting tall grass are the main ways to reduce tick activity in your yard. MMCD Public Affairs and Tick Services are currently working on a guide to reduce ticks on homeowner property, or "tickscaping".

The deer tick is the primary tick that transmits disease in Minnesota. Deer tick habitat is woods and brush. The wood tick (also known as the American dog tick) is primarily a pest, although it does transmit disease in other US states. Wood tick habitat is tall grass. The other MN tick species generally don’t use humans as a host.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

A rash, sometimes called a “bulls eye” rash, can appear 3-30 days after a person is infected. The rash doesn’t appear in every case. Headache, fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain can also be symptoms of early Lyme disease infection. If left untreated, early symptoms usually disappear. Later, more serious symptoms like arthritis, brain impairment, irregular heart beat, and persistent fatigue can appear.

Is Lyme disease treatable?

Yes. Early treatment with antibiotiocs is effective in preventing damage from Lyme disease. Later stage Lyme disease can also be treated, but early detection and treatment is simpler. See your doctor if you suspect you have become infected.

If a deer tick bites me, will I catch Lyme disease?

Not necessarily. Quickly finding and removing the deer tick is a key to preventing Lyme disease. Ticks must remain attached for at least 24 hours before they can infect you, and not all deer ticks carry the bacteria.

What other diseases can deer ticks spread?

Although Lyme disease is more common, deer ticks can also spread human granulocytic anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Read more at our Diseases to Know page.

A video can be found on our Black Fly Control webpage which details MMCD's approach to black fly control.

Do black flies transmit West Nile Virus?

There has been no documentation of black flies transmitting West Nile Virus to date. Black flies can transmit a disease of filarial worms, onchocerciasis, which causes blindness in people in Mexico, Central America and Africa. In addition, black flies can transmit leucocytozoonosis, a protozoan parasite, to domestic and wild birds. However, black flies are not known to transmit any diseases in the state of Minnesota.

How many species of black flies are there?

At last count, 1,912 species of black flies have been formally described world wide, 257 in North America. In Minnesota, 30 species have been documented.