In southeastern Minnesota, there is a band of counties that surround the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, commonly referred to as the Seven-County Metro Area. These seven counties are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, covering approximately 2,785 square miles. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, with numerous wetlands, ponds, lakes, and floodplains throughout the Seven-County Metro Area. This abundance of standing water creates the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Besides being a nuisance, mosquitoes are considered one of the most dangerous animals in the world because they can spread deadly and debilitating diseases. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that mosquitoes contribute to the deaths of approximately 700,000 people worldwide each year. While mosquito-related deaths are rare in the United States, illnesses caused by mosquitoes are somewhat common.

In 1958, the Minnesota state legislature founded the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) “to promote health and well-being by protecting the public from disease and annoyance caused by mosquitoes, black flies, and ticks, in an environmentally sensitive manner,” as stated on their website, for the residents of the Seven-County Metro Area. After a particularly wet year, MMCD recently announced plans to upgrade its mosquito control operations with the latest drone technology.

MMCD currently operates a fleet of trucks and a helicopter, along with technicians on bicycles, to handle day-to-day mosquito control tasks. With advancements in technology, the department began trialing the use of drones with a small agricultural model in 2020. The success of the trial led MMCD to purchase a DJI Agras T10 drone in 2023, a lightweight agricultural drone with a 4-liter tank to hold liquid or granular treatments. For the 2025 mosquito season, MMCD has expanded its drone capabilities by adding the DJI Agras T30 drone system.

The T30 is significantly larger, making it ideal for covering larger areas. It has a 30-liter tank and can cover up to 40 acres in an hour. MMCD has modified the spray systems on all of their drones to accommodate the granular pesticide spinosad, which they use to control mosquito populations. Currently, MMCD operates a fleet of eight drones. Rosa Mueller, MMCD’s Field Operations Supervisor, said that the drones perfectly complement their existing tools.

Rosa explained that MMCD will continue applying spinosad manually via technicians on bicycles, as well as from trucks and helicopters, but the drones will fill in any gaps. “We’ll be able to cover a lot more. It helps with sites that are a little too big or a little too dangerous for our technicians to be in, and sites that are a little too small for the helicopter to get a great treatment on,” Rosa said about the drones.

MMCD drone operator John Lundquist said the drones will see plenty of use. Several sites throughout the Seven-County Metro Area have already been designated for drone treatment. “The idea is we have three rounds of pre-hatch lasting 30 days,” John said of the designated drone treatment sites. “All these sites will be treated roughly every 30 days, with treatment continuing through early August.” MMCD expects to use about 20,000 pounds of spinosad across all of their application methods. Details about spraying dates and application methods are available for residents on the department’s website.

When asked which application method works best, Rosa said vigilance in applications is the most important factor. However, she noted that the drone program seems to be the most popular one MMCD offers. “I think it’s more fun for our technicians, for sure,” she said. “We get a lot of people applying for our drone technician jobs. It’s just different and more exciting to use newer technology nowadays.”

As mosquito seasons grow longer and wetter, innovative approaches like drone technology are becoming essential tools in protecting public health. By combining traditional methods with advanced drones, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is improving its ability to manage mosquito populations efficiently and safely, helping to keep Minnesota residents safer and more comfortable during the summer months.

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