Mosquito Control Uses Vacuum-like Devices to Target Pesky Insect

Summer is here and that often signals an invitation for mosquitoes to come out and bug all of us. However, officials with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District say things aren’t bad just yet and they want to keep it that way.

On Monday, MMCD targeted LaCompte Playfield, a neighborhood park in Plymouth. It’s the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes because of a wetland nearby. Crews used an aspirator, which is like a vacuum cleaner, to suck up the insects.

“There’s, I believe, 52 different types of mosquitoes,” said Chase Rogstad, a MMCD crew member.  “We try to target just the ones that carry diseases, because there are certain species that are known to carry disease than others.”

Checking Mosquitoes For Diseases

Mosquitoes like to hide under leaves. So crews kick up the vegetation to make it easier for the machine to get at the bugs.

“We’re able to kick them up as they are sleeping to see what kinds of mosquitoes are there. We see if there’s any vector mosquitoes or ones that are capable of carrying disease,” explained Molly Ness MMCD Spokesperson.

Once mosquitoes are caught, workers transport them to a lab in St. Paul and check them for disease.