For the sixth year in a row, Atlanta was once again named as the top spot for mosquitos, followed by New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Houston, according to the annual list released by Orkin, a national pest control company.
“Mosquitoes are more than annoying; they can be a major health threat,” says Mark Beavers, Orkin entomologist, referencing several mosquito-borne diseases, including the West Nile and Zika viruses.
Mosquito are most active when temperatures rise above 80 degrees. Breeding season for mosquitoes is usually July through September.
To remove the threat, experts recommend taking steps to reduce populations of mosquitos on a property. A single mosquito can multiply into as many as 400 in as little as four days, according to Orkin.
“Male adult mosquitoes feed on plant nectar, while females need a blood meal to support reproduction,” Beavers says. “Reducing items that attract mosquitoes, actively working to prevent them from breeding in their required water habitats, wearing insect repellent or moving inside the home during peak biting times are ways to protect oneself from mosquito bites.”
Protecting properties against mosquitoes
- Remove any object that can hold water or clean it frequently. Mosquitoes can breed in an inch of standing water.
- Clean gutters to avoid rainwater build up. Check for puddles that form on the roof from rain water, leaking pipes or even condensation from air conditioners.
- Change water (at minimum) weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water, including wading pools.
- Keep swimming pool water treated and circulating.
- Trim shrubbery. Adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark, protected areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.
- Eliminate entry points inside a room. Inspect doors, windows and window air conditioning units for drafts or openings. Install weather stripping around doors and caulk around window frames.
- Ensure that window and door screens are securely in place and free of holes or tears.
- Keep doors closed.
Top mosquito cities
- Atlanta
- New York (up one spot from last year)
- Washington, D.C. (+1 spot from last year)
- Chicago (+1 spot)
- Houston (+2 spots)
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (-4 spots)
- Detroit (+4 spots)
- Philadelphia (+9 spots)
- Charlotte, N.C. (+1 spot)
- Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (+5 spots)
- Phoenix (+14 spots)
- Los Angeles (+4 spots)
- Boston (+20 spots)
- Baltimore (+27 spots)
- Richmond, Va. (+14 spots)
Source: “Orkin’s 2019 Top Mosquito Cities,” Orkin.com (May 2019)
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