Top 50 Worst Cities for Mosquitoes

The Zika virus is the first thing people think about when they are warned of the risks for mosquitoes, and for good reason. The disease is known for causing almost no symptoms at all in most people who get it and fatalities happen quite fast. Zika looks to be a problem again this year, especially in areas where the type of mosquito that can carry the virus thrives.

Mosquitoes are an issue across the United States and become more active as temperatures rise, with mosquito season often ranging from April to October.

It is possible to control the mosquito population by cutting down the breeding to prevent spread of Zika and other mosquito-borne viruses. Most of the breeding sites include water-filled habitats like plant containers and toilets inside the home, puddles, birdbaths, outdoor pools and hot tubs. 

You should be especially vigilant if you live in a city more prone to mosquitoes. Orkin has released a ranking of the top cities who are plagued the most by the pests.

Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list ranks metro areas by the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments.

Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities

1. Atlanta, GA
2. Washington, DC (+1)
3. Chicago, IL (-1)
4. New York, NY (+1)
5. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL (+8)
6. Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
7. Houston, TX (+5)
8. Detroit, MI (-4)
9. Charlotte, NC (-1)
10. Nashville, TN (-3)
11. Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL (+11)
12. Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, FL (+11)
13. Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA (+1)
14. Memphis, TN (-3)
15. Mobile-Pensacola, FL (+11)
16. West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, FL (+15)
17. Raleigh-Durham, NC (-8)
18. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI (-3)
19. Boston, MA (-9)
20. Phoenix, AZ
21. Philadelphia, PA (+9)
22. Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, Asheville, NC (-6)
23. Richmond-Petersburg, VA (-2)
24. Kansas City, MO (+25)
25. Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH (-7)
26. Louis, MO
27. New Orleans, LA (+16)
28. Baltimore, MD (+9)
29. Los Angeles, CA
30. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (-11)
31. Hartford-New Haven, CT (-8)
32. Lafayette, LA (+12)
33. Knoxville, TN (+1)
34. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (-17)
35. Indianapolis, IN (-8)
36. Birmingham, AL (+11)
37. Austin, TX (+11)
38. Cincinnati, OH (+7)
39. San Antonio, TX
40. Baton Rouge, LA
41. Charleston, SC (-16)
42. Shreveport, LA
43. Columbia, SC
44. Columbus, OH (-12)
45. Bangor, ME (-16)
46. Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI (-18)
47. Greensboro-High Pt.-Winston-Salem, NC (-9)
48. Myrtle Beach-Florence, SC (-2)
49. Tulsa, OK (-13)
50. Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR