Several Texas cities were named the worst for mosquitoes. How did Dallas-Fort Worth fare?

Brayden Garcia
·2 min read

Thanks to its warm and hot summers, Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the worst metro areas in the country when it comes to mosquitoes, according to a new report.

When a warmer-than-normal winter is combined with rain, that creates the perfect mosquito breeding grounds. That’s why experts were predicting an early, fierce mosquito season this year. North Texas is firmly in mosquito season, which starts in early spring and lasts until mid-November. The pesky bloodsuckers thrive in moisture and humidity, where they lay eggs in any standing water they can find.

It is not that surprising that Dallas-Fort Worth landed on the No. 5 spot in pest control company Orkin’s annual “Top 50 Mosquito Cities” list this week. The top five slot is one position higher than Orkin ranked DFW last year at No. 6.

The list is based on treatment data from metro areas where Orkin performed the most mosquito control services from April 1, 2022, to March 31.

“Mosquitoes are attracted to water sources that can be either clean and fresh or polluted, stagnant or running, in sunny or shaded locations, large or small, and in either cool or hot environments,” Orkin entomologist Frank Meek said. “Because of the wide variety of environments in which mosquitoes can thrive, it’s important to maintain regularly scheduled pest control services.”

Mosquito infestations are taken seriously in North Texas because of the health threat it poses. Tarrant County Public Health confirmed a West Nile Virus-positive mosquito sample in April, the first of the 2023 season.

Which Texas cities made the ‘mosquito’ list?

The Lone Star State is well represented on the mosquito list with four cities making the list:

  • No. 5- Dallas-Fort Worth

  • No. 9- Houston

  • No. 39- San Antonio

  • No. 46- Austin

Houston moved up three spots from last year’s No. 12 spot to No. 9 on Orkin’s 2023 list. San Antonio actually dropped four slots from 2022’s No. 35 ranking. Austin made the Orkin list for the first time this year.

The rest of the top 10 mosquito cities outside of DFW and Houston were:

  • No. 1- Los Angeles (third consecutive year in first place)

  • No. 2- Chicago

  • No. 3- New York

  • No. 4- Atlanta

  • No. 6- Washington, D.C.

  • No. 7- Philadelphia

  • No. 8- Detroit

  • No. 10- Charlotte

Here’s how to repel or prevent mosquitoes?

Along with releasing the list, Orkin laid out several tips to help people avoid mosquitoes this summer:

  • Wear loose-fitting clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

  • Apply an EPA-registered mosquito repellent containing products such as picaridinn, IR3535 or DEET.

  • Eliminate standing water around the house such as in bird feeders, water bowls, potted plants, children’s toys or wading pools.

  • Clean debris regularly from gutters to prevent mosquito nesting.