Washington, D.C. ranks third among 25 worst cities for mosquitoes, according to the list of “cities buzzing with the most mosquitoes” recently released by Terminix.
Terminix is America’s number one provider of pest and termite control services, also operating in 22 other countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mosquitoes are the world’s deadliest animal. “Their ability to carry and spread the disease to humans causes millions of deaths every year,” says WHO.
Terminix identified 25 cities using service data from over 300 branches spread across the nation where residents had the highest number of mosquito services last year.
According to Terminix, apart from taking services of a professional to counter mosquito problems, mosquito populations around homes can be reduced by homeowners through steps like removing sources of standing water, cleaning the gutters, changing water sources weekly, and also by replacing outdoor lighting.
Terminix recommends emptying or replacing outdoor sources of water like pet bowls, fountains, birdbaths, rain barrels and plant containers which can be helpful in breaking the mosquito breeding cycle.
“While many in the United States think of mosquitoes as little more than nuisances that cause itchy red bumps, they can transmit serious diseases—including West Nile virus—and globally, they are vectors for deadly illnesses including malaria,” according to Terminix. Mosquitoes breed fast and female mosquitoes can lay up to 3,000 eggs within a couple of weeks. Infestation by mosquitoes is considered to be difficult to handle with DIY methods alone.
Dallas-Fort Worth ranked as number one city affected by most mosquitoes while Phoenix was listed at the bottom of the list, ranking 25th.
