In the U.S., mosquito season often ranges from April to October. For the fourth consecutive year, Atlanta is the number one mosquito city in Orkin's annual ranking of the Top 50 mosquito cities . The rankings are based on the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.
Here are the top 10 cities ( click here to see the full list of 50 ):
- Atlanta
- Washington, D.C.
- Chicago
- New York
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
- Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
- Houston
- Detroit
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Nashville, Tenn.
Mosquitos are considered a public health threat which has been of even more concern in recent years with the emergence of the Zika virus which has been found in more than 20 states including Georgia. Still, many Americans remain unconcerned about Zika. At least 220 cases of the virus have been transmitted in the U.S., though that is only a fraction of the more than 5,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S. since January 2015.
Atlanta-based Orkin offers these tips for a mosquito free summer:
- Mosquitos only need about an inch of standing water to breed. Do not allow standing water to remain in buckets, toys, containers, etc. If you have bird baths, fountains, or potted plants, change the water weekly. Clean gutters to keep water from pooling and be sure pools are treated and cleaned regularly.
- Keep shrubbery and vegetation trimmed to avoid giving mosquitos a dark, humid resting spot.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and long pants in areas where you may encounter mosquitos.
- Use mosquito repellent which contains DEET, picaridin or IR3535
- Repair holes in window and door screens and close gaps around windows and doors to prevent mosquitos from getting inside.
