Louisianans slathered with bug spray this time of year won’t be surprised: A new study ranks the state as the country’s most mosquito-prone.
“Louisiana takes the cake as the most mosquito-prone state,” says the study by Insuranks, which mainly provides information on the insurance marketplace for consumers. “The Bayou State’s hot and humid summers provide the perfect breeding ground for these pesky insects.”
Florida finished second in the study, while Michigan was listed as the least mosquito-prone.
Scores in the ranking were based on average summer temperature, rainfall, number of mosquito species, West Nile cases and Google searches about mosquito prevention. Louisiana scored a 63 overall, compared to Michigan’s score of 20.
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so it makes sense that two of the swampiest states received the highest scores.
In the study, Louisiana had the highest summer temperatures along with the fourth-highest summer rainfall, mosquito species and West Nile cases. However, Louisiana did not have representation in the top 10 cities most concerned about mosquitoes, a ranking based on Google searches.
The ranking only used information from last year, when the number of mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus in Louisiana was nearly 10 times higher than the previous year’s, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.
To decide how and where parish governments will cull mosquitoes, the department studies and maps mosquito populations. The LDH also tests mosquitoes for West Nile and tracks West Nile cases by parish. Since 80% of West Nile cases are asymptomatic, reported cases are of West Nile Neuroinvasive diseases, such as encephalitis or meningitis, which people over 60 are most at risk for.
Who mosquitoes bite can seem completely random. But they’re attracted to certain people more than others, according to a biomedical scientist at Houston Methodist hospital. Mosquitoes are most attracted to people who breathe out more carbon dioxide, with higher body temperatures and whose sweat releases a more attractive odor.
Tangipahoa Parish had the highest number of West Nile cases last year, with 327 out of 1,025 cases reported in Louisiana. Most of the cases happened between July and September.
The Insuranks study used data from the U.S. Census Bureau, NOAA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Population Review and Google Ads. Hawaii wasn’t included in the ranking because of a lack of data.
There’s no way to predict how active mosquitoes will be year-to-year, but there are ways to protect yourself from being bitten. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend repellents with one of four compounds: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535.
Around the house, Tangipahoa’s Mosquito Abatement District recommends that you:
- Keep swimming pools clean or covered
- Prevent tires, tarps, pots, plant saucers or other items from collecting water
- Keep gutters clean of debris
- Repair leaking water hoses or other equipment
- Cover open boats left outside
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