Texans may have to deal with more than the biting heat this summer.
Orkin has released its list of the top 50 cities in the nation ranked according to the prevalence of mosquitoes. The ranking is based on pest control services data collected between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023.
According to the data, the top cities in the United States were Los Angeles (1), Chicago (2), and New York (3). Los Angeles also ranked first the previous two years, while Chicago and New York marked their second year in the number two and three spots, respectively.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked fifth on the list, rising one place from the previous year. Other Texas cities also made it onto the list. San Antonio came in at 39, falling four spots, and Austin came in at 46.
With mosquito season ramping up, cities have begun to warn their residents of possible increases in mosquito populations. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District warned residents in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area in April that despite cooler temperatures delaying the appearance of mosquitoes, more are likely to appear compared to last year.
While mosquitoes are typically seen as a nuisance, some can carry dangerous pathogens and diseases, like the West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Zika.
Breeding season for mosquitoes can begin as early as May and persist through September.
“Mosquitoes are attracted to water sources that can be either clean and fresh or polluted, stagnant or running, in sunny or shaded locations, large or small, and in either cool or hot environments,” said Frank Meek, an entomologist for Orkin, per the press release.
“Because of the wide variety of environments in which mosquitoes can thrive, it’s important to maintain regularly scheduled pest control services,” he added.
Tips to avoid getting bitten include wearing long-sleeved clothing, avoiding standing water, cleaning away debris that can contain moisture, and using mosquito repellent.
