NORFOLK, Va. – Hampton Roads has made an appearance on Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities, ranking relatively high at number 13!
Mosquitoes are not only just a nuisance, they’re also one of the most dangerous animals in the world. They are known transmitters of Zika, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses, making them a serious health risk.
“Mosquitoes are a public health threat,” said Orkin entomologist, Mark Beavers, Ph.D. “Zika virus is currently one of the most notable illnesses that can be spread by mosquitoes, and it will likely be a problem again this year, especially in areas where the type of mosquito that can carry the virus thrives.”
Orkin creates their list based on the number of mosquito customers served during the previous mosquito season (April 1, 2016 – March 31, 2017), including both residential and commercial customers.
- Atlanta
- Washington, D.C. (+1)
- Chicago (-1)
- New York (+1)
- Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (+8)
- Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas
- Houston (+5)
- Detroit (-4)
- Charlotte, N.C. (-1)
- Nashville, Tenn. (-3)
- Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (+11)
- Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne, Fla. (+11)
- Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va. (+1)
- Memphis, Tenn. (-3)
- Mobile-Pensacola, Fla. (+11)
- West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Fla. (+15)
- Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-8)
- Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Mich. (-3)
- Boston (-9)
- Phoenix, Ariz.
- Philadelphia (+9)
- Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., Asheville, N.C (-6)
- Richmond-Petersburg, Va. (-2)
- Kansas City, Mo. (+25)
- Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio (-7)
- Louis, Mo.
- New Orleans, La. (+16)
- Baltimore, Md. (+9)
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. (-11)
- Hartford-New Haven, Conn. (-8)
- Lafayette, La. (+12)
- Knoxville, Tenn. (+1)
- Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y. (-17)
- Indianapolis, Ind. (-8)
- Birmingham, Ala. (+11)
- Austin, Texas (+11)
- Cincinnati, Ohio (+7)
- San Antonio, Texas
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Charleston, S.C. (-16)
- Shreveport, La.
- Columbia, S.C.
- Columbus, Ohio (-12)
- Bangor, Maine (-16)
- Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Mich. (-18)
- Greensboro-High Pt.-Winston-Salem, N.C. (-9)
- Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C. (-2)
- Tulsa, Okla. (-13)
- Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Ark.
Reducing items that attract mosquitoes and actively working to prevent them from reproducing and moving inside the home are the best protection from mosquito bites, Orkin says.
Orkin recommends the following tips to help residents protect against mosquitoes:
Eliminate Mosquito-Friendly Conditions in and Around Your Yard
- Remove standing water buckets, toys and other containers, as mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water.
- Change water weekly in bird baths, fountains, potted plants and any containers that hold standing water.
- Keep pool water treated and circulating.
- Regularly clean gutters so water doesn’t pool.
- Trim shrubbery, as adult mosquitoes like to rest in dark areas with high humidity, such as under the leaves of lush vegetation.
Prevent Mosquitoes from Biting
- Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Mosquitoes can bite through tight clothing.
- Apply an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing products such as DEET, picaridin or IR3535.
Eliminate Entry Points
- Repair and use window and door screens to help prevent entry.
- Close gaps around windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.
