Michigan mosquito hotspots ranked by Orkin. Diseases, prevention

Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint made the list, reflecting increased demand for mosquito control services.
Mosquitoes pose health risks, transmitting diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, and Zika.
Michigan residents are encouraged to eliminate standing water to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

A national pest control company says three Michigan cities are among the nation’s mosquito hotspots, based on how often customers requested treatments for the insects.

Orkin created the annual list based on the number of new residential mosquito treatments performed by the company from April 2024 through March 2025.

Los Angeles topped the list for most mosquito treatment calls and Chicago, which had been No. 1 the year before, was second.

Detroit ranked fifth on the list, behind New York City and Atlanta. Grand Rapids was 25th and Flint was 31st.

Mosquitoes are a major health threat, Orkin noted, causing over 600,000 malaria-related deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also transmit other diseases such as West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis and Zika virus.

“Mosquito control isn’t just about avoiding itchy bites,” Orkin entomologist Frank Meek said. “It’s about safeguarding your health and your community. Proactive measures are key to controlling these seasonal surges in mosquito activity.”

The nonprofit Michigan Mosquito Control Association, based in Bay City, notes some scientists estimate between 500 million and 700 million people get malaria worldwide each year because of mosquitoes.

So far, in 2025, no Michigan residents have contracted West Nile virus or any other mosquito-transmitted disease. In 2024, 31 Michigan residents tested positive for WNV, and seven tested positive for Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV).

WNV has been detected in six Michigan counties.

In Michigan, mosquitoes surge after period of rain that leave puddles and ponds in low-lying areas.

“Their development is really driven by heat and another important factor for them is to have standing water,” said Sarah Hughson, an insect and arthropod diagnostician at Michigan State University. “So, if we have more rain, we’re going to have more standing water that is a breeding site for them.”

Michiganders can’t control the weather, but they can begin removing potential breeding sites, which is the main preventative measure.

Water can build and sit in old tires, wheelbarrows, dog bowls and more. Emptying these vessels in springtime gives homeowners a leg up on limiting mosquito breeding.

“Yeah, any time we have rain, it’s good to go out and check and see if you have any of those standing water sources in the yard and correct those,” Hughson said.

Table of Contents

The 50 mosquito hotspots in the US

The list of 50 cities in the U.S. where mosquito treatment was most often requested by Orkin customers. Numbers in parenthesis show whether the city’s ranking increased or decreased.

Los Angeles
Chicago (+1)
New York (-1)
Atlanta (+1)
Detroit (+5)
Houston
Dallas (-3)
Washington, D.C. (-1)
Cleveland (+10)
Denver (+6)
Philadelphia (-3)
Miami (+3)
Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (+7)
Charlotte, N.C. (+4)
San Francisco (-6)
Indianapolis (+12)
Orlando, Fla. (-4)
Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla. (-6)
Minneapolis (-2)
Baltimore (+3)
Nashville, Tenn. (+4)
Greenville, S.C. (+7)
Columbus, Ohio (+9)
Oklahoma City (+12)
Grand Rapids, Mich. (+8)
Seattle (-15)
Norfolk, Va. (+12)
Pittsburgh (+16)
Cincinnati (+9)
Richmond, Va. (+17)
Flint, Mich. (new to list)
Tulsa, Okla. (+17)
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (new to list)
Memphis, Tenn. (+11)
Albuquerque, N.M. (+8)
Knoxville, Tenn. (+10)
San Antonio (-11)
Milwaukee (+3)
San Diego (-12)
Boston (-19)
Columbia, S.C. (new to list)
West Palm Beach, Fla. (-11)
Kansas City, Kan. (-8)
Hartford, Conn. (-7)
Greensboro, N.C. (-3)
Augusta, Ga. (new to list)
St. Louis (-23)
Myrtle Beach, S.C. (new to list)
Davenport, Ill. (new to list)
New Orleans (-10)

Common Michigan mosquito species

Michigan is “blessed” with nearly 60 species of mosquitoes, according to Michigan State Unversity, roughly divided into two groups: spring mosquitoes and summer mosquitoes.

Spring mosquitoes typically develop in snow melt pools and produce one generation per year. Summer mosquitoes are opportunists that will produce multiple generations during the summer as long as there is enough standing water for their larvae to develop in.

Michigan is home to dozens of mosquito species, according to the MMCA, but some of the most common include:

Psorophora ciliata: Up to a half inch long, breeds in floodwaters.
Aedea japonicus: An invasive species with black and white legs that breeds in containers
Aedes vexans: Breeds in floodplains, grassy fields, ditches and other temporarily flooded areas.
Aedes canadensis: Breed in vernal woodland pools.
Anopheles punctipennis: Adults overwinter. Breed in swamps, marshes and ditches. Greatest numbers in July to September.
Culix pipiens/restuans: Adults overwinter. Often breed in containers. Greatest numbers July to September.
Coquillettidia peturbans: Larvae overwinter in marshes. Greatest numbers July to August.
Aedes triseriatus: Live in wooded areas and tire yards. Adults produced from May to September.

Reducing mosquito populations where you live

There are a few preventive measures homeowners can take to help reduce mosquito activity. Consumers can use the acronym BITE to remember the steps, Orkin said.

Block access to skin by wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as CDC-recommended repellants.
Install tight-fitting screens on windows and doors.
Trim shrubs, grass and other vegetation to reduce mosquito resting areas.
Eliminate standing water, which is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Ways to protect yourself from mosquito bites

If you expect to be in an area where mosquitoes are, such as a park, lake or campsite, be extra careful when venturing outside. Mosquitoes are most active in the warmer months of March through October.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the best way to reduce the risk of infection is to prevent mosquito bites:

◾Use insect repellent, which includes DEET or picaridin.

◾Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

◾Treat clothing and gear with the insecticide Permethrin.

◾Avoid going outside at dawn and dusk, that’s their most active time of day.

◾Take steps to control mosquitoes indoors and outdoors.