SC has 3 of most mosquito-infested cities in US for 2025, Orkin says. Two are new to the list

If you’ve walked around outside in South Carolina in recent days, you’ve likely run into a few mosquitoes.

The annoying insect is one of the scourges of the South — a cause of irritating, itchy bites and a potential carrier of diseases. The pesky critters thrive in warm, damp environments, which is why they’re so prevalent across the South each summer.

Pest control company Orkin compiles a list each year of the top 50 most mosquito-infested U.S. cities as a way to encourage homeowners to take preventative measures. The data for this year’s list was collected by tracking new residential mosquito treatments from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

This year, three South Carolina cities made it onto the list. However, two of the cities are new to the list, Orkin says.

The new cities include Columbia, ranked 41st, along with Myrtle Beach, which came in at 48th on the list.

The city of Greenville, which was on last year’s list, cracked the top 25 in 2025, ranking 22nd most mosquito-infested in the U.S.

Below are the top 10 most mosquito-infested cities for 2024. For the complete list, click here.

Top 10 mosquito-infested U.S. cities

1. Los Angeles
   
   
2. Chicago
   
   
3. New York
   
   
4. Atlanta
   
   
5. Detroit
   
   
6. Houston
   
   
7. Dallas
   
   
8. Washington D.C.
   
   
9. Cleveland
   
   
10. Denver
    
    

How to control mosquitoes in your yard

Ridding your property of mosquitoes starts with eliminating places where they lay their eggs.

• Remove any containers or pools of stagnant water from your property, as they are ideal breeding spots for mosquitoes.
  
  
• Tightly cover water storage containers so mosquitoes cannot get inside to lay eggs.
  
  
• Fill tree holes to prevent them from filling with water.
  
  
• If you have a septic tank, repair any cracks or gaps.
  
  
• You can also use larvicides to treat large bodies of water that will not be used for drinking and cannot be covered or dumped.
  
  
• Use outdoor adulticide to kill adult mosquitoes where they rest, which includes dark and humid areas like under patio furniture or under the garage.
  
  

How to control mosquitoes in your home

• Use an indoor insect fogger or indoor insect spray to kill mosquitoes. Only using insecticide will not keep your home free of mosquitoes.
  
  
• Use window and door screens and make sure they’re in good condition.
  
  
• Kill mosquitoes where they rest, which includes dark and humid places like under sinks, in closets, under furniture and laundry rooms.
  
  

Patrick McCreless

The State

803-771-8353

Patrick McCreless is the Southeast service journalism editor for McClatchy, who leads and edits a team of six reporters in South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi. The team writes about trending news of the day and topics that help readers in their daily lives and better informs them about their communities. He attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama and grew up in Tuscaloosa, AL.