5 CA Cities Named Top Anti-Mosquito Cities: List

A city in the Golden State was named America’s top “mosquito city” for the fourth year in a row, according to Orkin.

June 2, 2024 6:59 am PDT | Updated June 2, 2024 7:03 am PDT

CALIFORNIA — As summer heats up, so does mosquito season in California.

In fact, a city in the Golden State was named America’s top “mosquito city” for the fourth year in a row, according to Orkin.

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Los Angeles claimed the top spot on the pest control company’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list for 2024. New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta rounded out the top five cities.

California was the most represented on the list. Five Golden State cities made the top 50. San Francisco ranked number 9, while Sacrament ranked 22nd, San Diego ranked 27th, and ash tree ranked 50th.

This year’s data was collected by tracking new residential mosquito treatments from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, according to Orkin.

Although mosquitoes are small, they are the deadliest animal in the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They spread diseases like malaria and other serious illnesses like West Nile virus and Zika.

West Nile is the most common mosquito-borne illness in the continental U.S., with an average of 2,400 cases reported each year, according to the CDC.

The CDC helped eliminate malaria as a major public health problem in the United States in the early 1950s. The disease, which can be fatal, reappeared in the US for the first time in 20 years in 2023, with eight locally acquired and mosquito-transmitted cases in 2023. Florida and Texas.

mosquitoes They thrive in warm, humid environments, so they become a bigger problem in the spring and summer. Mosquitoes are attracted to stagnant water such as breeding ground to lay their eggs.

“Preventive services are the best way to reduce the risk posed by mosquitoes,” said Orkin entomologist Frank Meek. “By attacking the problem at its source, homeowners can reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases to their families and communities.”

Orkin recommends removing standing water in rain gutters, potted plants, wading pools, and other outdoor features. The company also suggests regularly replacing water in pet waterers and birdbaths to prevent stagnation.

People should also wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and use EPA-registered mosquito repellents that contain products such as DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.