by Brianna Crandall — April 6, 2016—The Atlanta area tops pest control leader Orkin’s list of Top Mosquito Cities for the third year in a row. Atlanta is followed on the list by Chicago and Washington, DC. Eight cities in the Southeast are included in the ranking — more than any other region.
Ron Harrison, Ph.D., entomologist and Orkin technical services director, commented:
Mosquitoes are a major health concern during the summer. Mosquitoes are known carriers of several diseases, including Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and West Nile virus, so people across the United States — whether their city is on the list or not — need to take precaution to help prevent mosquito bites.
The list ranks cities by the number of mosquito customers served in 2015:
- Atlanta, GA
- Chicago, IL
- Washington, DC
- Detroit, MI
- New York, NY (+9)
- Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (+2)
- Nashville, TN (+3)
- Charlotte, NC (+1)
- Raleigh-Durham, NC (-3)
- Boston, MA (-3)
- Memphis, TN
- Houston, TX (-7)
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, VA
- Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, MI (-3)
- Greenville-Spartanburg, SC, Asheville, NC (+2)
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY (+2)
- Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH (-1)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN (-4)
- Phoenix, AZ
- Richmond-Petersburg, VA (-7)
- Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL
- Hartford-New Haven, CT
- Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourn, FL
- Charleston, SC
- Mobile-Pensacola, FL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, MI
- Bangor, ME
- Philadelphia, PA
- West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, FL
- Columbus, OH
- Lansing, MI
- Knoxville, TN
- Wayne, IN
- Tulsa, OK
- Baltimore, MD
- Greensboro-High Pt.-Winston-Salem, NC
- Burlington, VT-Plattsburgh, NY
- Portland-Auburn, OR
- Buffalo, NY
- Shreveport, LA
- New Orleans, LA
- LaFayette, LA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Myrtle Beach-Florence, SC
- Birmingham, AL
- Austin, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Macon, GA
As temperatures increase, so will the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika virus, points out Orkin. While June, July and August are the prime months for mosquito activity, mosquito season can begin as early as March in the southern part of the United States where temperatures are warmer. Mosquitoes affect people in every state in the United States.
The most common mosquitoes in the United States are:
- Aedes mosquitoes: The most common types of Aedes mosquitoes are commonly referred to as Asian tiger or yellow fever mosquitoes. They can carry and spread Zika virus, Chikungunya virus and Dengue virus. They are most common in the southern United States. Aedes mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and also bite at dusk and dawn.
- Culex mosquitoes: These mosquitoes are in every state and can carry and spread West Nile virus. They are most common at dusk and dawn.
- Anopheles mosquitoes: In addition to spreading malaria, which has been considered eradicated from the United States, these mosquitoes can transmit dog heart worm and other viruses. They have been found in every state and are most active at dusk and dawn.
Orkin’s map indicates the prevalence of the three main types of mosquitoes in the USA.
Zika virus, other mosquito-borne illnesses
Zika virus has become a major concern over the past year after thousands of cases were reported in South and Central America, the Caribbean and American Samoa, and more than 190 travel-related cases were reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“There is no vaccine for Zika virus, Chikungunya virus or West Nile virus. The only protection is preventing mosquito bites, so anyone who spends time outdoors during the spring and summer months needs to take precaution by eliminating standing water where mosquitoes can breed,” said Harrison.
Protecting against mosquitoes
Orkin recommends the following tips to help protect workers and families against mosquito-borne illnesses:
Eliminate standing water in yard
- Remove standing water from gutters, buckets, toys and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just a few inches 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.
Prevent mosquito bites
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
- Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents containing one of the following active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or IR3535.
Eliminate entry points
- Use air-conditioning when possible.
- Close gaps around windows and in walls.
- Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.
Rollins, Orkin’s parent company, experienced a 9.6 percent increase in mosquito revenue from 2014 to 2015.
Visit the Centers for Disease Control site Zika Virus page for the latest information on known Zika-affected areas and updated travel alerts. For more information about the virus, visit Orkin’s Zika Virus and Mosquitoes page. For more mosquito information and prevention tips, visit Orkin’s Mosquitoes page.
