Anoka County Fights Mosquitoes With Drones: New High-Tech Pesticide Dispersal In Coon Rapids

Anoka County Fights Mosquitoes With Drones: New High-Tech Pesticide Dispersal In Coon Rapids

Residents of Anoka County are witnessing a high-tech update in the ongoing battle against mosquitoes using drones. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) has enlisted the help of two sizable agricultural drones, the T-25s, to disperse pesticides and curb the mosquito population. According to an announcement from the district, this move is part of their fight against the "dreaded" cattail mosquitoes that are emerging in larger numbers this year.

Field operations supervisor with the MMCD, Rosa Mueller, addressed the mosquito outbreak, "We did see a lot of cattail mosquitoes coming out this year," emphasizing the need for more efficient containment measures. The drones' advantage comes from their ability to carry around 40 pounds of spinosad, a granular pesticide, to the targeted, and sometimes hazardous locations that are difficult for technicians to access, or too small for helicopters to treat effectively.

One particular site under treatment near Main Street and Highway 10 in Coon Rapids is a swamp water area aimed at destroying mosquito larvae before they mature into biting adults. Mueller further explained the precision of the operations, asserting that GPS coordinates guide the MMCD staff in accurately targeting the application areas. This GPS-driven approach allows for comprehensive coverage and exact treatment dispersal.

As part of the summer strategy, drone pilot and MMCD supervisor John Lundquist indicated a rigorous treatment schedule, stating, "The idea is we have three rounds of pre-hatch lasting 30 days." Ensuring that the mosquito habitats are treated every 30 days, the control will continue through early August. In total, the MMCD plans to distribute about 20,000 pounds of pesticide across the wetland regions of Anoka County throughout the summer using a combination of hand spreading, aerial application from helicopters, and drone technology.

SOURCE: hoodline