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Charlotte ranks among the worst in U.S. when it comes to mosquitos

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For the second consecutive year, a pest control company says Charlotte is one of the worst cities in the nation for mosquitoes.

5 Things to Know: Preventing mosquito bites

Orkin ranked cities by the number of mosquito treatments performed, and Charlotte came in at number nine -- the second year in a row in that slot.

Atlanta topped the list and Raleigh came in at number five.

The cities are ranked by the number of mosquito treatments the company performed in 2014.

1. Atlanta
2. Chicago
3. Washington
4. Detroit
5. Houston
6. Raleigh–Durham
7. Boston
8. Dallas–Fort Worth
9. Charlotte
10. Nashville
11. Memphis
12. Grand Rapids
13. Miami-Fort Lauderdale
14. Richmond
15. Minneapolis
16. New York
17. Cleveland
18. Asheville
19. Albany
20. Knoxville


June, July and August are prime mosquito months in most areas. Because of warmer temperatures in the southern part of the United States, the season can extend from April to October, but mosquitoes affect people in every state in the U.S.

"Mosquitoes can be a major health concern during the summer, no matter where you live," said Entomologist and Orkin Technical Services Director 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."

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention upgraded chikungunya virus to a "nationally notifiable condition" in the United States, providing state and local health departments with standard definitions for reporting and tracking cases. So far this year, the more than 70 reported American cases of chikungunya virus occurred in travelers returning from the Caribbean and other affected areas outside the U.S. In 2014 more than 2,400 cases were reported in travelers and nearly a dozen locally-transmitted cases were reported in Florida.

The two mosquito species that can spread the chikungunya virus -- Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes -- are common in the Southeast United States and parts of the Southwest. Unlike other species, the Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes are active throughout the day, not just at dusk and dawn, and often live around buildings in urban areas.

Here are five things you can do to prevent mosquito bites.

  1. Time your outings outside: Most breeds of mosquito are at their peak biting time during dusk and dawn.
  2. Mosquitoes breed in standing water. Clean out your pools. Watch for pooling water. Be careful around ponds and lakes.
  3. Mosquitoes carry serious diseases like the West Nile virus. West Nile has killed more than 1,000 people in the United States since it was first discovered in 1999.
  4. Wearing white clothing and avoiding flowery perfumes can help make you less attractive to the feeders.
  5. Use chemical-free repellents to ward off mosquitoes.

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