20 Worst Cities for Mosquitoes in the US

The odds of being bitten by a mosquito are better in Atlanta than in any other city in America, says pest control expert Orkin. Atlanta led the list of Orkin's 20 Top Mosquito Cities for the second year in a row. The list is based on the number of people serviced for mosquitoes in 2014.

Not surprisingly, nine cities in the Southeast are in the top twenty:

1. Atlanta 11. Memphis, Tenn.
2. Chicago 12. Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich.
3. Washington 13. Miami-Fort Lauderdale
4. Detroit 14. Richmond-Petersburg, Va.
5. Houston 15. Minneapolis-St. Paul
6. Raleigh-Durham, N.C. 16. New York
7. Boston 17. Cleveland-Akron
8. Dallas-Fort Worth 18. Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Ashville, N.C.
9. Charlotte, N.C. 19. Albany-Schenectady
10. Nashville, Tenn. 20. Knoxville, Tenn.

Mosquitoes affect people in every state, and June, July, and August are considered prime months.

"Mosquitoes can be a major health concern during the summer, no matter where you live," said entomologist Ron Harrison, Ph.D.

"Their bites can cause allergic reactions and spread diseases, which means families need to take precautions against mosquitoes when outdoors in their own yards and around their communities, as well as when they travel," said Harrison, who is Orkin's technical services director.

Besides being an itchy nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit diseases, including West Nile virus and encephalitis. Chikungunya, a new virus to the United States that was first found in the Americas on an island in the Caribbean in 2013, is also spread by mosquitoes.
Orkin and the Centers for Disease Control recommend the following tips to protect against mosquito bites:

• When outdoors, use an insect repellent containing DEET.
• Wear long sleeves and pants when outside.
• Eliminate standing water, such as in bird baths and flower planters. Mosquitoes need only a few inches to breed.
• Make sure screens on windows and doors fit tightly and have no holes for mosquitoes.