Top Mosquito City Revealed

Spring rains are creating the perfect breeding grounds for one of the worst summer pests—mosquitoes. Facility managers in charge of controlling insects are inspecting their grounds to eliminate standing water and perhaps preparing to spray insecticide.

Some areas of the country are in for a tougher mosquito season than others. For the seventh year in a row, Atlanta has the top spot on pest control leader Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities List. Other cities in the top 10 include:

• Los Angeles
• Washington, D.C.
• New York
• Chicago
• Dallas-Ft. Worth
• Detroit
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Philadelphia
• Miami.

Three cities were new to the list this year: San Francisco at number 36; Birmingham, Alabama at number 44; and Fort Wayne, Indiana at number 49.

Mosquitoes typically become active when temperatures are above 68 degrees Fahrenheit overnight, and breeding season can start as early as May and last through September. Mosquitoes carry various diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Zika.

Facility managers should eliminate conditions that attract mosquitoes such as:

• Standing water in bird baths, fountains, potted plants, and wading pools
• Debris in gutters that provide moisture and harborage
• Overgrown shrubbery that provides dark, humid resting places
• Torn or missing window and door screens.

Learn more tips for eliminating pest breeding grounds at your facility.