This Insect Kills More Than a Million People Each Year

Summer brings warmer temperatures and longer days, and of course that means spending more time outdoors. Unfortunately, it also means mosquitos, one of nature’s most irritating — and dangerous — pests. In fact, these little demons are the number one animal killer of human beings in the world, taking more than 1 million lives a year due to mosquito-borne diseases. So they’re no joke. Here’s what you need to know to prevent infestations and protect yourself when one of them wants to suck your blood. 

The Role of Mosquitos in the Ecosystem

Let’s give mosquitos their due. Every living thing has a purpose in the ecosystem, and mosquitos are no mistake. As small as they are, they’re still a critical source of food for birds, bats, and fish. They are also pollinators for some plants, especially night-blooming flowers. So if we killed them all, this would have a negative ripple effect on the environment and decrease overall biodiversity. 

The Danger of Mosquitos

So we’ve established the fact that mosquitos do play an important role, but make no mistake: they are annoying. But it’s worse than that. They are also disease vectors for malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and chikungunya. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, mosquito-borne illnesses claim more than 1 million lives a year, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This makes them the deadliest animal on Earth. One of the main mosquito species in the Southern U.S. is Aedes aegypti, which spreads Zika and dengue fever. This species is found in Florida and Texas. Another species, Culex pipiens, transmits West Nile virus and is found in more urban areas like Chicago and Washington, D.C.

Life Cycles of Mosquitos

If we know a mosquito’s life cycle, we have a better chance of preventing and controlling them. Mosquitos go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The transition from egg to adulthood takes just 10 days or so. To breed, mosquitos seek out warm weather, humidity, and stagnant water. Around your yard, they can breed in birdbaths, clogged gutters, puddles, ponds, plant saucers, and discarded items that have caused rainwater to pool. You might see their population dramatically go up after a heavy rain.

Adult mosquitos feed on the blood of animals and humans by using their proboscis, a long straw-like feature that pierces the skin and transports the blood from the host to the mosquito. A mosquito’s movement from one victim to another is how disease spreads between animals and people. Because mosquitos feed on so many different species of animals, they have huge potential for spreading disease across different species and from animals to humans.

Where in the U.S. Are Mosquitos Really a Problem?

Data from Orkin’s 2024 Top Mosquito List singled out these cities as the country’s mosquito capitals:

1. Los Angeles
2. New York
3. Chicago
4. Dallas
5. Atlanta
6. Houston
7. Washington DC
8. Philadelphia
9. San Francisco
10. Detroit

Mosquitos are especially a problem in humid southern cities in places like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. However, California had five cities in the top 50 list, which makes it a leading contender for the worst mosquito-infested state. And even frigid Alaska, when it thaws out, produces monster swarms of mosquitos living their best life until winter returns.

What About Overseas?

In tropical and subtropical climates, mosquitos are an all-year problem. The worst outbreaks consistently occur in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, South Asia, and Africa. Explosions in the mosquito population often happen during rainy seasons, such as India’s monsoons (June-September) or Brazil’s rainy season, which lasts from November to March.

How to Stop Mosquitos from Breeding Around Your Home and Yard

To stop them from making your home their home, you can use a mosquito repellant that contains DEET or picaridin. Another choice is to use a larvicide in outdoor water features to kill larvae without hurting the rest of the environment. You can remove any standing water around your property. If you use rain barrels to collect water, keep them covered. And you can install window and door screens or keep the windows closed and the air conditioning on. There are also mosquito traps that emit carbon dioxide to lure and trap them. Citronella candles will temporarily repel them as well. And finally, you can protect yourself from mosquitos outdoors and when traveling with products containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus and wear long sleeves, pants, and light-colored fabrics.

What to Do If Bitten

Wash the area and don’t scratch it. Put a bandage on the bite if necessary as a reminder not to absent-mindedly scratch. Use hydrocortisone cream to reduce the itching and inflammation, and see your doctor if you start running a fever, have severe swelling, or develop other unexpected symptoms.