Two Missouri cities among top cities most plagued by mosquitoes

Summer is here, which means more people are enjoying time outdoors. It also mean’s it’s peak time for those pesky summer mosquitoes.

Pest company Orkin just released a list of the top 50 US cities that were the most plagued by mosquitoes and two Missouri cities made the list. Those two cities are Kansas City and St. Louis, both of which were in the top 15.

Robert Hemmelgarn with the Missouri Department of Conservation says it’s this warmer weather they will allow them to quickly develop.

“Eggs and larvae take different amounts of time to hatch and emerge as flying mosquitoes”, said Hemmelgarn. “Generally speaking, mosquitoes need standing water before they hatch.”

While recent rain has been beneficial for the drought stricken areas, it’s also creating a breeding ground for the pests.

Hemmelgarn says that anywhere you get a pool of water that will stay for a least a week, you have the potential for mosquito larvae to hatch.

It’s these mosquitoes that have gone from being a nuisance, to a pest that can transmit viruses like Zika and West Nile. So, it’s important to make sure you are protecting yourself and preventing your property from being a breeding ground.

“The best practices around the home include keeping leaf, litter, and debris out of the gutters,” said Hemmelgarn. “Additionally, you want to keep junk and tires, or anything that might collect water and hold it there for up to a week.”

As for yourself, mosquitoes are most active in the evening. While it’s uncertain when they will be the worst this summer, you can prepare as well. It’s recommended that you wear plenty of bug spray and long sleeves when outdoors during the evening.

Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather as we continue to track these warmer conditions and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.