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Why mosquitoes are worse in 2026 — and what you can do about it
Why Mosquitoes Are Worse in 2026 — and What You Can Do About It
It’s not your imagination: The threat of these buzzing, biting insects is intensifying. Here’s how to push back and keep enjoying the outdoors
By: Beth Levine
There is an old motivational saying that if you think you are too small to make an impact, try sleeping with a mosquito. Bzzzt, slap, ow, scratch. Repeat.
So, yes, mosquitoes are legendary-level annoying. And to make their presence even worse, current populations are increasing, lasting longer into the season, carrying more diseases, and moving into new territories, all due to climate change.
It is true that some people seem like an open buffet to the little buzzers, while others are an unappetizing snack. “We all emanate odors from our skin. That's partly from your metabolism, and it's partly from the microbes that are on your skin, releasing small, volatile compounds,” explains Daniel Markowski, PhD, Technical Advisor at the American Mosquito Control Association. “It’s just the chemistry of how you break down food and how much you sweat, which releases volatile odors. That makes some people more attractive to mosquitoes than others.”
Key Takeaways:
- Climate change is making mosquitoes more common; they are active in new regions and for a longer season.
- The risk of West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, and other mosquito-borne illnesses is rising.
- Mosquito prevention starts at home by eliminating standing water, wearing light-colored clothing, and using insect-defense systems and fans.
Why are mosquitoes getting worse?
Regardless of whether you rank as "must-bite" or "meh" to a mosquito, here's a closer look at what's happening and then how to avoid getting bitten.
- There are way more of them. Mosquitoes need warmth to exist. Current research shows that global warming may cause mosquitoes to increase by 16% to 19% from previous years.
- They are going where no mosquito has gone before. As the planet heats up, they are moving into areas that used to be a lot cooler where they haven’t been as much of a pest before. Milder winters allow them to survive and thrive in these new-to-them regions. “Those lower temperatures only have to move up a few degrees to make a big difference in survival,” said Dr. Markowski.
- Mosquitoes are staying active longer throughout the year. While the insects’ active phases used to be limited to the summer, milder springs and falls allow them to extend their activity a lot longer. Global warming strikes again.
- These pests carry diseases. West Nile Virus and Equine Encephalitis have all been seen in the U.S., transmitted by mosquitoes. More rarely, cases of Dengue, chikungunya, and Zika outbreaks have occurred in America and its territories. Studies say mosquito-borne diseases collectively cause nearly one million deaths worldwide each year.
- Mosquitoes are evolving to adapt to temperature changes. Recent research indicates that mosquitoes may be able to genetically change to survive in higher temperatures. “We found that mosquitoes have the potential to evolve on pace with climate warming, suggesting that we may be under-estimating future disease risk,” the authors wrote in their published study.
How do you keep mosquitoes away?
You know about the insect repellent sprays; you know about the zappers (which don’t work so well; Dr. Markowski said that they mostly kill moths, flies and bees). There are lots of other ways to keep mosquitoes at bay.
- Remove all standing water. Don’t forget to check your gutters! Adult mosquitoes need water to lay their larvae.
- Wear light-color clothes when outdoors if possible. Black, red, orange, and other intense colors are the most attractive hues to mosquitoes, according to research. They are less attracted to white, light greens and yellows. In addition, paler colors reflect heat and light rays, making you less easy to find.
- Wear a mask, if you can stand it. The carbon dioxide in your breath is what really brings in the biters. “They can smell it from 100 feet away and then follow the plume to you,” said Dr. Markowski. If you wear a mask, it won’t eliminate all the CO2 but it will cut down on it considerably.
- Get an outdoor fan. Mosquitoes can’t fly well in wind.
- Mow the grass. Adult mosquitoes try to avoid the hot part of the day by resting in vegetation.
- Plant some scented plants. The natural oils of certain plants repel mosquitoes. You do have to activate the natural oils within by trimming them or crushing the leaves. Best bets: Citronella, eucalyptus, marigold, lemon verbena, basil and sage.
- Protect your property with a mosquito defense system. It provides effective pest control by attracting adult mosquitoes to a breeding ground and then eliminating the adult and its larva.
- Avoid going outside at dawn or dusk. That's when mosquitoes are most active.
Take these steps, and you’ll be ready to enjoy your outdoors, from coffee in the morning while surveying your yard to late-night firepit hangs.
Need help protecting your property from mosquitoes? See what Ortho offers.
About the Writer
Beth Levine is an award-winning health writer whose work has been published in The Washington Post, Everyday Health, and others. Her essays have appeared in McSweeney’s, Salon, and more, and she was a finalist in The New Yorker cartoon caption contest. She can be found at bethlevine.net.