We're Here To Let You Know...

Enclosed is a summary of work completed by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) in the Helena area during the 2025 mosquito control season. 

Throughout the year MMCD provides a variety of services to residents of the District including: 

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Comprehensive mosquito surveillance and control, primarily in areas of standing water where mosquito larvae develop 

Monitoring for mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile virus and alerts to local communities 

Black fly (biting gnat) surveillance and larval control in rivers and streams 

Tick population monitoring and tick-borne disease education 

Educational outreach including city events, parades, school presentations, and display booths at fairs 

Weekly mosquito updates on the MMCD website 

Interactive public maps outlining mosquito habitats and displaying control activity 

Quality checks to ensure efforts are effective and products are safe for people, pets, pollinators, and wildlife 

On the back of this page, you will find an overview of the mosquito season for 2025 and some of the important highlights that were accomplished this year by MMCD staff. Enclosed with this letter you will find a summary of activity for your community along with a write-up of some of the big stories of 2025. 

We would love the opportunity to discuss the services that MMCD provides to your area. If there are any council meetings, advisory boards, or other groups that would be interested in an update from the world of mosquito control, please let us know! 

Sincerely, 

Jan My 

Daniel Huff, Executive Director 

Metropolitan Mosquito Control District 

Rena Maran 

Rena Moran, Ramsey County Commissioner 

Chair of MMCD Commission 

 

 

City and Community Presentations Available 

MMCD staff are available to provide an update on mosquito activity, give city specific information, or share resources about mosquito, tick, and black fly reduction measures. Presentations or live questions and answers are great for City Council Meetings, Township Board Meetings, Sustainability Commissions, or events for residents. If you would like to schedule a presentation, please contact Alex Carlson: 

Alex Carlson, Public Affairs Manager 

acarlson@mmcd.org 

Direct: (651) 643-8342 

Summa 2025 Activity Summary for and Hell New Prague and Helena 

MOSQUITO CONTROL 

Most efforts by MMCD are to control mosquito larvae that develop in standing water and are most common after rain. Treatments use dry granules that are specific to mosquito larvae and are not harmful to people, pets, or wildlife. Materials are applied via helicopter, backpack, drone, or by hand. Adult mosquito control is done sparingly, usually in areas of elevated disease risk. 

Larval Control in New Prague and Helena in 2025: Sites Inspected: 218 | Acres Treated: 1895.60 Adult Mosquito Control in 2025: 

Sites Inspected: 26 | Acres Treated: 38.95 

DISEASE PREVENTION 

Controlling the mosquito species that are most likely to spread disease is a top priority for MMCD. Removing containers that could hold stagnant water is critical to reducing the spread. 

Disease Prevention Activity in New Prague and Helena in 2025: Tires Removed*: 8819 | Catch Basins Treated: 284 Disease Prevention Property Inspections: 1 

PUBLIC INTERACTIONS 

Outreach to the public is an important part of our program and we connect with residents when they call us to request service, or through public events and presentations. 

Customer Calls from New Prague and Helena in 2025:0 Events or Presentations in 2025: Dozinky Days Parade Raven Stream Elementary, Kids Company Summer Program 

*NOTE: In 2025 we switched from individual tire pickups to large tire drop-off events. This number reflects the total number of tires collected in all of Scott and Carver Counties. 

For questions about your city's data, 

please contact Alex Carlson - acarlson@mmcd.org 

mmcd 

METROPOLITAN MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT 

The Big Stories from 2025 

RECORD YEAR FOR WEST NILE VIRUS 

Minnesota reported the third highest number of human infections of West Nile virus in the nation in 2025. In the Twin Cities, we experienced our highest number of human cases on record with 42 reported, greatly surpassing the previous high of 28. Several factors contributed to this increase including a high number of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, which are the primary species responsible for WNV transmission, and high infection rates among mosquito pools appearing earlier than normal. MMCD took several steps to respond to this increase in disease activity including additional surveillance locations, targeted control measures in areas with elevated infection rates, and expanded media appearances and public outreach. 

CATTAIL MOSQUITO SURGE IN JULY 

Locations with positive West Nile Virus samples in 2025 

After 4 years of below average mosquitoes in July, the mid-summer surge was back in 2025 with the highest reported total of one particular species in the Twin Cities since 2020. Cattail mosquitoes (Coquillettidia perturbans) are a unique species that overwinters as larvae below the ice attached to vegetation (often cattail plants) before emerging the following summer around the beginning of July. Due to excessive rain in 2024 our entomology lab model predicted a high number (about 88/trap) in 2025. While the actual number was much higher than the previous 3 years, 

which each saw about 15/trap, the number in 2025 came in lower than the prediction at about 41/trap, thanks in part to targeted treatments by MMCD field staff. 

BLACK FLY TOTALS WERE LOW IN 2025 

The number of biting black flies collected in sweep nets in 2025 (0.45/sweep) was lower than 2024 (1.13/sweep) and 2023 (0.9/sweep), due in part to lower river levels in the spring and a record number of small stream treatments done by MMCD in 2025. 

DEER TICKS ABUNDANT IN EAST AND NORTH METRO 

Blacklegged ticks or "deer ticks" are collected by MMCD staff by trapping small mammal hosts, by dragging cloths across the forest floor, and by removing ticks found on themselves after being outdoors. In 2025, the highest number of blacklegged ticks were found in northern Anoka County and throughout Washington County. American dog ticks or "wood ticks" were most abundant in Dakota County. 

Get more of the year's big stories at MMCD.org and the Annual Report coming in January! 

If You Don't Know, Now You Know!