This summer, The Leaflet has put together a ranking of the most “mosquito-friendly” cities in the country, with several places in Florida making the top 10.
More specifically, the study looks at NOAA weather data between April 2024 and March 2025 to figure out how cities fared along two key metrics related to mosquito breeding conditions.
- High annual precipitation
- Average yearly temperatures over 70°
“These warm, wet environments allow mosquito eggs to hatch quickly and populations to thrive,” the study reads.
[BELOW: It’s not just mosquitoes — find out which Florida city is the “buggiest”]
Perhaps unsurprisingly, every single city in the top 10 was located in the southeast U.S., with the top spot being Tampa.
According to the researchers, the Cigar City sees over 78 inches of rain each year and averages over 75°.
“While the city offers mosquito control services, clogged gutters are a common problem,” the study continues. “Cleaning your gutters monthly during the rainy season can help prevent standing water and keep mosquitoes away.”
Meanwhile, the rest of the ranking is as follows:
| Rank | City | Annual Precipitation | Average Yearly Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa, FL | 78 inches | 75.5° |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | 76.74 inches | 72.6° |
| 3 | Ft. Myers, FL | 73 inches | 77.5° |
| 4 | Lafayette, LA | 67 inches | 71.7° |
| 5 | Jacksonville, FL | 64 inches | 70.6° |
| 6 | Miami, FL | 64 inches | 79° |
| 7 | Tallahassee, FL | 61 inches | 70.7° |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | 59 inches | 71.8° |
| 9 | West Palm Beach, FL | 54 inches | 75.8° |
| 10 | Houston, TX | 49 inches | 74° |