Mosquito

For the seventh year in a row, Atlanta lands the number one spot on national pest control leader Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities List. Coming in second is Los Angeles, making a 10-spot jump from 2019 - the second largest on the list behind Memphis, Tennessee's 16-spot leap. Three new worst cities for mosquitoes broke into the list this year: San Francisco, Birmingham, Alabama and Fort Wayne, Indiana

Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list ranks metro areas by the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. The list includes both residential and commercial treatments. We have listed 15 of the top cities, in order, below. The figures to the right of the city name demonstrate their movement on the list.

1. Atlanta  2. Los Angeles (+10) 3. Washington, D.C. 4. New York (-2) 5. Chicago (-1)  6. Dallas-Ft. Worth 7. Detroit  8. Charlotte, North Carolina (+1) 9. Philadelphia (-1) 10. Miami (+4) 11. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (-1) 12. Houston (-7) 13. Memphis (+16) 14. Richmond, Virginia (+2) 15. Minneapolis 

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 are one of the world’s greatest public health threats,” says Frank Meek, technical services manager, Rollins, Inc., Orkin’s parent company. “While we typically think less about that in the U.S., the current pandemic may cause heightened concern over disease transmission.” Mosquitoes carry vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Zika. These dangers apply to both human and pets. By reducing or eliminating conditions that attract mosquitoes and wearing insect repellent people can help protect themselves from mosquito bites and the risks associated with them. Attractants include: - Standing water in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and wading pools - Debris in gutters that provide moisture and harborage - Overgrown shrubbery that afford dark, humid resting places - Torn or missing window and door screens