Is Your Business in One of These Four Mosquito-Prone Zones?

Mosquitoes are more than just irritating — they can spread diseases to customers and staff, earning them the title of the “deadliest animal in the world.” Couple those serious risks with the fact that people hate mosquitoes, and you have good reason to want to keep them away from your business. The move here is to be proactive and not wait until your staff and customers are itching. But when exactly is mosquito season? The answer depends on whether you’re operating in one of these four regions, which are the most mosquito-prone zones in the U.S.

The Southeast

• Where: Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

• What: While mosquitoes have earned their reputation as a persistent summer pest, businesses in the Southeast should anticipate a longer season for mosquito activity. More days for mosquitoes to lay eggs and increase their populations can lead to more mosquito bites for residents of this region.

• Why: The number of days with minimum temperatures exceeding 75° F in this region has been on the rise since the 1970s. These warm days are accompanied by the humidity the south is famous for — a big attractant to mosquitoes, who spend three of the four stages of their lifecycle in water.

• Do: To help ensure your customers and staff are spared, coordinate mosquito service with your pest control provider in early spring and be prepared to remain vigilant longer into the fall.

The Gulf Coast

• Where: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida

• What: Proximity to a body of water — or even just having water features on-site — drive up your chances of seeing a heavy mosquito presence around your property.

• Why: Unfortunately, a wet climate is an ideal climate for irritating mosquitoes. If you live and work in this region, you’re no stranger to humidity and afternoon summer storms. Add hurricane season into the mix from June to November, and the standing water it can leave behind, and you get a perfect storm for a mosquito infestation.

• Do: Like all things mosquito protection, it’s a matter of staying prepared instead of being caught off-guard. We’ve created an extreme weather checklist to help you do just that.

The Midwest

• Where: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio

• What: Wetter and warmer weather mean businesses in this region should prepare for an earlier mosquito season.

• Why: Over the past decades, winter and spring temperatures have trended warmer while precipitation has trended up — especially in the summer.

  • That has implications for protecting your business from mosquitoes, because these pests thrive in warm, humid conditions.

  • Of the four stages of a mosquito’s life cycle, the first three — egg, larval and pupal — all require submersion in water for development.

• Do: If you don’t like the thought of having all those little mosquito mouths to feed around your team members, be sure to have your mosquito control plan in place early.

The Southwest

• Where: Southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico

• What: Mosquito season in this region can start as early as March and last nearly year-round. Many lower-elevation regions can stay temperate enough for mosquito season to last almost year-round

• Why:

  • You may think the lower humidity might give you a pass from the worst of mosquito season, but we have to bust that myth. Pay extra attention to irrigation systems, water features, rain collection barrels and any other potential sources of standing water around your property, because:

  • Mosquitoes only need about a tablespoon of water to develop.

• Do: Don’t wait for mosquitoes to become a drain on your business. Start preparing by implementing some of Orkin’s top-recommended preventive measures.

Mosquito Prevention for Your Business

Take a deeper dive into preparing for everyone’s least favorite season — mosquito — with Orkin’s free ebook: Mosquitoes 101: Your Complete Guide to Mosquito Control for Your Business.

Commercial Mosquito Control

If you’d rather call in a well-trained, seasoned pro to alleviate the irritation of dealing with mosquitoes, Orkin has you covered. You can partner with the Best in Pests™ to develop a customized mosquito control plan.