NYC Takes Top Spot on Terminix's Most Mosquito-Infested Cities List

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mosquito activity is expanding beyond its traditional stronghold in the Southern United States, according to new data from Terminix, a Rentokil Terminix company. Based on 2025 service data from more than 300 Rentokil-owned Terminix branches nationwide, the company’s annual list of the Top 50 Most Mosquito-Infested Cities reveals shifting patterns driven by prolonged heat, higher humidity and increased rainfall in regions outside historically high-risk markets.

Terminix said New York City takes the No. 1 spot for the first time, rising from No. 3 in 2025 and overtaking Los Angeles, which fell to No. 3 in this year’s rankings. The company said the change reflects a broader geographic shift in mosquito activity, with several Northeastern and Midwestern cities with dense urban areas recording some of the largest year-over-year increases.

“What this year’s rankings show is that mosquito activity is becoming more dynamic and less predictable across the country,” said Dr. Sydney Crawley, principal vector scientist at Terminix. “We’re seeing longer mosquito seasons and expanding geographic reach, which means communities that haven’t historically faced high mosquito pressure are now experiencing sustained exposure. That has implications not just for comfort, but for public health preparedness.”

Top 10 Most Mosquito-Infested Cities:

• New York (+2 positions from 2025 ranking)
• Dallas-Ft. Worth (no change)
• Los Angeles (-2)
• Philadelphia (+2)
• Atlanta (-1)
• Louisville (+26)
• Washington, D.C. (no change)
• Boston (Manchester) (+7)
• Detroit (+12)
• Houston (+12)