Mosquito management groups working to forestall pesky bugs from multiplying in Minnesota

On Wednesday, a mosquito control team went to a dry pond bed in Oakdale. In anticipation of a week-long rainy season, the team scattered dry pellets in a typically classic wetland area submerged in a foot of water.

“Of course it was a very dry time of year so it’s pretty dry,” said Lauren Smith, an MMCD field technician.

There are fewer mosquitos this season due to the dry weather, according to MMCD, but prevention is paramount, according to Smith, especially a week before heavy rain is expected.

Technicians like Smith conduct property inspections to check for stagnant water in containers like wheelbarrows and buckets, and to distribute before hatching and other treatments in case mosquitoes transmit diseases like the West Nile virus. She says insects that tested positive for the virus are usually found in early July, but they haven’t found any this year.

Alex Carlson, a public affairs coordinator at MMCD, said it was too early to have data on West Nile cases in humans as the peak season is just beginning.

MMCD said whether a mosquito is rain dependent or not, the organization is still seeing far fewer bugs this year, in part because the end of last year was also dry.

The crews will be back in another month for more preventative treatments.