Minneapolis — Drones are used to perform a wide range of tasks and jobs in today’s world. In Minnesota, they are now being used to control mosquito populations.
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) purchased its first drone in 2020 to see if this new technology could be used to disperse treatment in nearby wetlands.
“We did a case study the first couple of years,” MMCD Field Operations Supervisor Joe Elling explained. “We really wanted to put it through its paces to make sure it was safe and effective.”
According to Elling, the leadership at MMCD quickly realized that drones were more than a gimmick.
“We sat down for a meeting, and it was like, ‘Yeah, it’s actually helping out in a lot of ways. “Let’s buy more,” Elling stated.
MMCD now owns and operates eight drones, which are deployed in communities throughout the Twin Cities metro.
According to Elling, approximately two dozen employees have been trained to use these drones to disperse treatment that kills mosquito larvae in wetlands.
“The treatment targets mosquito and midge larvae and it stunts their growth so they can’t emerge from the water,” Elling told me.
On a typical day, Elling claims that a flight team can treat up to 20 sites with their drone.
Drones are commonly used in wetlands that are too small for MMCD helicopters.
“A helicopter is loud and has a large swath width,” Elling explained. “We’re finding that with a certain size of wetland we’re getting a better treatment with drones.”
Elling claims that before drones, the MMCD treated these smaller wetlands with ground crews.
“We’d have someone walk in with waders and a 50-pound backpack on their back, which could be dangerous. We have a lot of trips and falls, so we try to minimize them with these drones,” Elling explained.
Currently, drones are treating approximately 10% of the sites identified by MMCD throughout the Twin Cities Metro.
Elling predicts that percentage will grow exponentially in the coming years.
So, if you see a large drone flying around your neighborhood this summer, it’s possible it’s being used to treat mosquitos.