As the month of May rolls right into June and temperatures start to rise all across the U.S., a new season is quickly approaching—mosquito season.
Ranging from April to October, mosquito season can bring about illnesses like Zika virus, which the CDC confirmed brought forth over 5,000 cases in the United States alone since January 2015.
“Mosquitoes are a public health threat,” says Orkin entomologist, Mark Beavers, Ph.D. “Zika virus is currently one of the most notable illnesses that can be spread by mosquitoes, and it will likely be a problem again this year, especially in areas where the type of mosquito that can carry the virus thrives.”
In an effort to rank the most mosquito infested cities in America, Orkin released its annual report, "Top 50 Mosquito Cities," based on the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.
Here are the top 10 cities in order:
- Atlanta
- Washington, DC
- Chicago
- New York
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
- Houston
- Detroit
- Charlotte, NC
- Nashville, TN
Orkin recommends the following tips to help protect against mosquitoes:
- Remove standing water in buckets, toys and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water.
- Change water weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water.
- Keep pool water treated and circulating.
- Regularly clean gutters so water doesn’t pool.
- Trim shrubbery, as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.
