In the best circumstances, mosquito bites are an itchy nuisance. In the worst, they can lead to potentially deadly viruses like dengue or Zika. And unfortunately, it looks like this mosquito season is not going to be pretty in either regard. Pest control company Mosquito Joe recently put out an alert warning of a "longer and more intense" pest season that's already starting to pick up.
RELATED: CDC Warns Dengue Cases Are Rising in the U.S.—How to Protect Yourself.
Mosquito activity will be "heavy" this year.
"Mosquito activity is already ramping up in many regions due to fluctuating temperatures and lingering moisture from recent storms, which signals a potentially intense season ahead," said David Price, associate certified entomologist for Mosquito Joe.
The reason for this is twofold: Mosquitoes prefer warm, humid weather, and they breed in standing water.
In parts of the country, the insects could come out in dangerous numbers. For example, The Minnesota Star Tribune recently published a forecast from the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) predicting that by July 4, mosquito numbers will reach a five-year high in the Twin Cities. They explain that a certain mosquito species, the cattail, hasn't emerged in recent years due to drought conditions. But this year, it's looking like a wet spring.
In Florida, experts are dealing with a unique cause of increased mosquito activity: a decreased population of a tiny lizard called the brown anole. As the Miami Herald explains, these lizards typically "absorb" a lot of mosquito bites, reducing the risk to humans. But in recent years, local residents began releasing their larger pet lizards and snakes into the wild, decimating the brown anole population.
RELATED: 5 Ways You're Becoming a Mosquito Magnet, Experts Warn.
Experts are worried about several mosquito-borne diseases.
Of course, the big reason this is all concerning is an uptick in mosquito-borne diseases, one of which is dengue fever.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued an alert about rising dengue cases in the U.S. following 2024 outbreaks in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
"A record number of dengue cases were identified among U.S. travelers (3,483 cases), which is an 84% increase compared to the previous year," they said of last year's data.
As Best Life previously reported, Last year, the following states reported the highest numbers of travel-associated dengue cases:
- Florida (1,016)
- California (648)
- New York (327)
Additionally, three states reported locally transmitted cases in 2024:
- California (91)
- Florida (18)
- Texas (1)
How to protect yourself now from mosquitoes.
- Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can breed: This includes bird baths, fountains, empty planters, and any children's toys that could accumulate rainwater.
- Fix leaky outdoor faucets that could be creating pools of standing water.
- Keep swimming pools clean and circulating.
- Keep your yard tidy, getting rid of tall grass, weeds, and piles of leaves that attract rodents and insects. Also, regularly mow the lawn.
If a problem still persists, call in a professional to address the mosquito issue.
