INDIANAPOLIS -- Summer is almost here and we all know what that means: Mosquito season.
Hoosiers are no stranger to the buzzy little bugs with plenty of natural water sources that provide prime breeding grounds for mosquitos.
To top it off, Indianapolis has been ranked the 20th most mosquito-infected city in the United States by Terminix.
The pest control company examined service data from branches across the country between April 1, 2016, and April 1, 2017, to determine the areas where customers are most pestered by mosquitos.
Indianapolis was “lucky” enough to make the top 20 list.
Just be glad you don’t live in Texas, which is home to four of the top 10 most “mosquito-infected” cities.
Florida isn’t far behind, claiming three of the top 15.
See the full list below.
- Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
- Houston, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
- Memphis, Tenn.
- Nashville, Tenn.
- Austin-Round Rock, Texas
- Mobile, Ala.
- Jacksonville, Fla.
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Washington, D.C.
- Tampa, Fla.
- Louisville, Ky.
- Baton Rouge, La.
- Little Rock, Ark.
- Tulsa, Okla.
- Birmingham, Ala.
- Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Indianapolis, Ind.
Terminix has also released their Ultimate Mosquito Guide, which gives the following tips for homeowners who want to reduce the number of mosquitoes they have:
1. Remove sources of standing water. Mosquitoes need standing water in order to lay their eggs. Removing old tires, buckets, plastic sheeting or covers and old containers that may have filled with water will reduce the available habitat in your yard.
2. Clean out the gutters. In addition to getting rid of ground sources for standing water, it is also important to maintain your gutter system. Leaves and other debris can build up in your gutters and down spouts, leading to water retention.
3. Change water sources weekly. Emptying or replacing the water in outdoor pet bowls, fountains and birdbaths, rain barrels, and plant containers weekly will help break the mosquito breeding cycle.
4.; Replace outdoor lighting. Mosquitoes, like many insects, can be attracted to light. Special bulbs called "bug lights" emit a different type of light than typical light bulbs. Replacing outdoor lighting with these "bug lights" can help attract fewer mosquitoes.
5. Seal and screen entry points. Mosquitoes are small; most species are about one-quarter to one-half of an inch in their adult stage. This means they can enter your home or garage through the tiniest of openings.
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