Macon Mosquito Abatement District

06/11/2026

Until recently, rain showers have been hard to find, but mosquitoes are still active. So where do we find mosquito larvae when common sources dry up? More often, man made items such as buckets, rain barrels, discarded tires, bird baths and abandoned swimming pools continue to hold water long after the last rain.

06/09/2026

Great piece of information from the IDPH. Insect repellent should be an item every outdoors person should keep with them. There are many repellents to choose from, each with a different active ingredient. Find one that works for you and your family. Being prepared is prevention- don't let ticks and mosquitoes keep you from enjoying outdoor activities.

Ticks are part of summer in Illinois, but they don't have to keep you from enjoying the outdoors.

Whether you're gardening, walking the dog, hiking a trail, or cheering from the sidelines at a summer sports game, taking a minute to check for ticks can help protect you and your family.

Save this checklist for your next outdoor adventure, and remember:
✓ Check yourself, children, and pets after spending time outside
✓ Remove ticks promptly with fine-tipped tweezers
✓ Watch for symptoms like fever, rash, fatigue, or headache after a tick bite

Want to learn more?

Our latest blog post covers common tick myths, where you're most likely to encounter ticks, how to do a quick tick check, and what to do if you find one.
📝 Read more: https://open.substack.com/pub/idph/p/tick-season-is-here-dont-panic-just?r=546owr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

06/02/2026

The Macon County Health Department and the Macon Mosquito Abatement District are teaming up to host a tire recycling event for Macon County residents!

Old tires collect standing water and become the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes — so let’s work together to keep our community cleaner and healthier. 🦟💪

📅 Thursday, June 25th
⏰ 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
📍 4170 N. Bearsdale Rd., Decatur, IL

✅ ACCEPTED:
• Up to 10 rimless passenger tires per household

❌ NOT ACCEPTED:
• Lawnmower tires
• Motorcycle tires
• Semi-truck tires
• Tractor tires
• Tires from commercial tire shops

⚠️ PLEASE BRING 2 FORMS OF PROOF OF RESIDENCY!
Examples include a driver’s license and a utility bill

🚧 DROP-OFF INSTRUCTIONS:
The Macon Mosquito Abatement District is now located at the corner of Rt. 121 and N. Bearsdale Rd.

➡️ To keep traffic moving smoothly:
• Enter from the SOUTH on N. Bearsdale Rd.
• DO NOT enter from Rt. 121
• Use Boiling Springs Rd. from Rt. 121 or Pershing Rd. from N. Wyckles Rd.

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Part 2 of setting a gravid mosquito trap.

06/01/2026

Come set a gravid mosquito trap with MMAD!

06/01/2026

Your Monday Mosquito Minute for the week of June 1:
Overall, mosquito abundance is low due mostly to lack of rainfall in our district. The last significant rain came nearly one month ago which has limited water sources for mosquito habitat. Still, localized increased mosquito presence can be witnessed and will largely be due to containers holding water. Outdoor activities such as gardening and temporary swimming pools are common sources of mosquito production this time of year. If you witness more mosquito activity in your backyard check for containers and tip and toss water inside them.

*Mosquito habitat of the week is a pile of discarded tires. Even without a recent rain tires hold water and are perfect habitat for mosquitos.

DO YOU HAVE USED TIRES IN YOUR BACKYARD? The Macon County Health Department (Decatur, IL) and MMAD will host a tire recycling event on Thursday June 25th 8:30-12:30 at the MMAD. Check for event details on our social media pages.

05/14/2026

With warmer weather on the horizon, the Illinois Department of Health is urging people to take precautions against illnesses spread by animals and pests.

Read more using the link in our comments.

05/06/2026

We're Hiring for Mosquito Field Technicians
Help protect public health and the environment while working outdoors!
What You’ll Do:
• Apply mosquito control treatments (larvicides)
• Conduct field inspections
• Identify and document breeding sites using maps and tech tools
• Respond to service requests and keep accurate daily records
• Operate equipment and maintain vehicles & gear

What We’re Looking For:
• Comfortable working outdoors in all conditions
• Good driving record & 18+
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and with the public

Join a team making a real impact in your community!
APPLY HERE ------>https://www.maconmosquito.org/job-inquiries/

05/01/2026

Day 3: Today we hosted other ULG’s (units of local government), some outside of our district boundaries, for a “one hour training”. This event licenses individuals to make larvicide treatments for their communities without the need for a full pesticide applicators license using prepackaged larvicides.

How this helps you: Well timed larvicide treatments to standing water (especially in villages and townships outside of our district where we cannot make treatment) can help reduce mosquito populations in your community. Relying solely on “spraying” or “fogging” of your community is missing an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to reducing mosquito populations and ignores the source of mosquito development.

It was great to see representation from the City of Decatur, Macon County Conservation District and the Village of Forsyth at this year’s annual training. We were able to host them at our new building and show them a behind the scenes look at what our operations look like and how we serve our community.