If you feel like you’ve been swatting away more mosquitos than usual and coming inside from a day spent outdoors to find you’re covered head to toe in bites, you’re not the only one. Not only are the lanternflies back with vengeance this summer–the massive surge is worst than last year’s–but the mosquitos are as well, so you may want to stock up on bug spray and citronella candles!
A recent study by Orkin pest control ranked the nation’s top mosquito hotspots, and unfortunately NYC found itself in this year’s top five.
According to the data, NYC ranked as the nation’s third biggest mosquito hotspot–and we’ve got the hot, humid, rainy weather to thank for it. While the city’s shift toward a more subtropical climate has gifted us dreamy, nostalgic nights lit up by fireflies, it’s also created the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes to swarm in full force.
Now, we New Yorkers don’t need to be reminded about how rainy it’s been–almost every single weekend this spring and summer has been rainy at some point–but to slap a metric on it NYC has experienced four more inches of rain since mosquito season first began this April compared to last year.
And mosquitos don’t need much to lay their eggs–just a few millimeters deep of water is sufficient for mosquitoes to reproduce, which means puddles, flower pots with standing water, bird baths, and any other container storing water serve as mosquito breeding grounds. And considering adult female mosquitoes lay 50-200 eggs at a time, before you know it thousands of mosquitoes are hatching all at once.
With mosquito numbers rising, concerns begin to rise surrounding the fact that not only are they a nuisance, but they’re also a major health threat. According to the CDC, “the mosquito is the world’s deadliest animal. Spreading diseases like malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis, the mosquito kills more people than any other creature in the world.” Frank Meek, Orkin entomologist, stated:
Mosquito control isn’t just about avoiding itchy bites. It’s about safeguarding your health and your community. Proactive measures are key to controlling these seasonal surges in mosquito activity.
But if we’re celebrating small wins last year NYC ranked second as the nation’s biggest mosquito hotspot, so at least we’re making our way down! Plus, according to the city’s health department, the total number of mosquito pools that tested positive for West Nile virus this year is currently 141 compared to 1578 last year, a 91% drop.
According to the Department of Health, mosquito season in New York City typically spans from April through October. Thankfully, there are several simple preventive measures you can take to help reduce mosquito activity–just remember the acronym BITE:
- Block access to skin by wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as CDC-recommended insect repellants (EPA-approved repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus)
- Install tight-fitting screens on windows and doors
- Trim shrubs, grass, and other vegetation to reduce mosquito resting areas
- Eliminate standing water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes
Orkin’s 2025 Top 10 Mosquito Cities
1. Los Angeles
2. Chicago
3. New York
4. Atlanta
5. Detroit
6. Houston
7. Dallas
9. Cleveland
10. Denver
The 2025 ranking is based on the number of new residential mosquito treatments performed by Orkin from April 2024 through March 2025. See the full report.