ATLANTA — Los Angeles once again claims the top spot on Orkin’s 50 Best Mosquito Cities list. This is the second consecutive year that the City of Angels is ahead of the competition. Chicago and New York trail in second and third place respectively, both of which are up three spots from the previous year. Joining the list this year are Columbus (OH), Pittsburgh (PA), Sacramento (CA), Milwaukee (WI), Champaign (IL), Portland (OR), Greensboro (NC), Louisville (KY), Myrtle Beach (SC) ), Hartford (CT) and Waco (TX).
As Memorial Day approaches, the unofficial kickoff of summer in the United States, the threat to public health from these pesky insects will only grow as outdoor activities and summertime gatherings become more popular. As part of Orkin’s ‘Mosquitoes Don’t Deserve A Drop’ campaign, the pest control leader will donate $25 to the Red Cross for every mosquito control service purchased from May 24 through May 30. June 2022, up to $150,000.
“We are already fighting the mosquito front by helping protect customers across the country with our mosquito services, but we are committed to doing more,” said Freeman Elliott, president of Orkin. “Our partnership with the Red Cross is one that we truly embrace. Keeping construction sites mosquito-free is of great importance to us and to be able to do this while supporting a relevant and essential cause is a real honor.
Additionally, to boost our country’s blood supply, Orkin is inviting the public to pledge to donate blood through the Red Cross via a SleevesUp campaign, through June 30, 2022.
“We are very grateful for Orkin’s continued support as our partnership enters its third year,” said Kamenna Lee, Vice President of Marketing and Direct Donor Recruitment at the American Red Cross. “Our blood supply remains vulnerable and we are grateful to Orkin for encouraging donations during the difficult summer months.” Orkin’s Top 50 Mosquito Cities list ranks metropolitan areas based on the number of mosquito customers served from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. The list includes residential and commercial mosquito treatments.
1 Los Angeles
2 Chicago (+3)
3 New York (+3)
4 Washington, D.C. (-1)
5Atlanta (-3)
6 Dallas (-2)
7 Detroit
8 San Francisco (+34)
9 Miami (-1)
10 Philadelphia (+2)
11 Tampa (+2)
12 Houston (-1)
13Cleveland (+12)
14 Baltimore (+5)
15 Denver (+28)
16Orlando (-1)
17 Raleigh (-7)
18 Charlotte (-9)
19 Indianapolis (-1)
20Seattle (+8)
21 Columbus, OH (new to the list)
22 St. Louis (+5)
23 Minneapolis (-6)
24 Greenville (+5)
25 Nashville (-9)
26 Norfolk (-2)
27Cincinnati (+17)
28 Great Rapids (-14)
29 Richmond (-8)
30 Phoenix (-8)
31 Pittsburgh (new to the roster)
32 Kansas City (+4)
33 San Diego (+6)
34 Boston (-11)
35 San Antonio (+3)
36 West Palm Beach (-6)
37 Sacramento (new to the list)
38 Milwaukee (new to the list)
39 Knoxville (-5)
40 New Orleans (-14)
41 Champagne (new to the list)
42 Flint (new to the list)
43 Portland, OR (new to the list)
44 Greensboro (new to the list)
45 Toulouse (-13)
46 Memphis (-26)
47 Louisville (new to the list)
48 Myrtle Beach (new to the list)
49 Hartford (new to the list)
50 Waco (new to the list)
More than 200 types of mosquitoes live on the American continent and its territories. They usually become active when temperatures are above 68 degrees Fahrenheit at night, and the breeding season can start as early as May and last until September.
“Mosquitoes thrive in warm temperatures and after rain,” said Frank Meek, Technical Services Manager, Orkin. “These pests are able to lay their eggs in low pools and reproduce rapidly, growing from the larval stage to the adult stage in just a few weeks.”
However, as troublesome as mosquito bites can be, the diseases they are capable of transmitting pose the real threat. Known to transmit West Nile Virus, among other diseases such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Zika, it’s important to stay prepared.
