Mosquitoes are a major health concern because they are known to be carriers of several diseases, but there are steps that facility managers can take to minimize the threat of these pests.

Pest control leader Orkin recently recently announced a list of Top Mosquito Cities, but they also released suggestions on how to prevent the pests.
 
This list ranks cities by the number of mosquito customers served by Orkin in 2015:
 
1.    Atlanta                                                        
2.    Chicago                                                     
3.    Washington, D.C.                         
4.    Detroit                                                         
5.    New York (+9)                                            
6.    Dallas-Ft. Worth (+2)                   
7.    Nashville, Tenn. (+3)                               
8.    Charlotte, N.C. (+1)                                     
9.    Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-3)                                     
10.  Boston (-3)
11.  Memphis, Tenn.
12.  Houston (-7)
13.  Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
14.  Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va.
15.  Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. (-3)
16.  Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Asheville, N.C. (+2)
17.  Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y. (+2)
18.  Cleveland-Akron-Canton (-1)
19.  Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. (-4)
20.  Phoenix
21.  Richmond-Petersburg, Va. (-7)
22.  Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.
23.  Hartford-New Haven, Conn.
24.  Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla.
25.  Charleston, S.C.
26.  Mobile-Pensacola, Fla.
27.  Indianapolis
28.  Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Mich.
29.  Bangor, Maine
30.  Philadelphia
31.  West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Fla.
32.  Columbus, Ohio
33.  Lansing, Mich.
34.  Knoxville, Tenn.
35.  Ft. Wayne, Ind.
36.  Tulsa, Okla.
37.  Baltimore, Md.
38.  Greensboro-High Pt.-Winston-Salem, N.C.
39.  Burlington, Vt.-Plattsburgh, N.Y.
40.  Portland-Auburn, Ore.
41.  Buffalo, N.Y.
42.  Shreveport, La.
43.  New Orleans
44.  LaFayette, La.
45.  Cincinnati, Ohio
46.  Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C.
47.  Birmingham, Ala.
48.  Austin, Texas
49.  Kansas City, Mo.
50.  Macon, Ga.

As temperatures increase, so will the threat of mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika virus. 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 U.S.
 
Most Common Mosquitoes in the United States:
 
  •  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.

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 U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
“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 Ron Harrison, Ph.D., entomologist and Orkin technical services director.
 
Tips to help protect against mosquito-borne illnesses:
 
Eliminate Standing Water
 • Remove standing water from gutters, buckets and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just a few inches of standing water.
 • Keep pool/fountain water treated and circulating.
 
Eliminate Entry Points
 • Use air-conditioning when possible.
 • Close gaps around windows and in walls.
 • Encourage the use of revolving doors.
 • Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.
 
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.