Today's Mosquito Risk in Florida: Real-Time Forecast & Activity Map
Check your ZIP code for local mosquito activity, West Nile risk, and prevention insights.
Built from CDC and NOAA data
Mosquito Surveillance Insights
- Annual WNV Cases
- about 100 to 250 confirmed cases annually
- highest absolute count in the Southeast
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 1: Peak Pressure
- Local dengue transmission documented in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys; only true year-round biting state in the lower 48.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Miami-Dade and Monroe (dengue); Polk, Marion, Brevard (EEE); Orange, Hillsborough, Duval (WNV)
Current Situation in Florida
Florida is the heaviest mosquito-pressure state in the country, with roughly 100 to 250 confirmed WNV cases annually and the only year-round biting climate in the lower 48. Aedes aegypti is established statewide and sustains local dengue transmission in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys, with documented outbreaks recurring most years. Aedes albopictus is also established statewide. The state-specific WNV vector is Culex nigripalpus, an Everglades and cypress-swamp Culex that drives Florida's distinctive transmission cycle, with Cx. quinquefasciatus filling in across the urban metros. EEE is concentrated in central Florida, with Polk, Marion, and Brevard counties producing the country's most consistent EEE bridge cycling. St. Louis Encephalitis remains a documented historic risk. Biting runs year-round and peaks May through October.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Florida, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Very High
- Peak Activity
- April through October
- Dominant Vector
- Florida SLE Mosquito (Culex nigripalpus); Yellow Fever Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) year-round statewide
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Florida
Florida mosquito habitat is the densest and most varied in the country. The Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve hold enormous Cx. nigripalpus populations that drive WNV and SLE transmission across central and southern Florida. Mangrove coast from Tampa Bay through Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys produces Aedes taeniorhynchus, the black salt marsh mosquito infamous for biting in clouds. The St. Johns River corridor through Jacksonville and Sanford holds sustained Cx. nigripalpus. Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee floodplain sustain mixed Culex and Aedes populations. Urban Miami-Dade catch basins, Keys hammocks, and Tampa Bay neighborhoods carry dense Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Apalachicola and Pensacola Bay round out the panhandle salt-marsh complex.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Miami-Dade County (Miami, Biscayne Bay, dengue focus)
- Orange County (Orlando, central FL EEE corridor)
- Hillsborough County (Tampa Bay, mangrove coast)
- Duval County (Jacksonville, St. Johns River)
- Monroe County (Florida Keys, year-round Aedes aegypti)
- Polk County (central FL EEE focus)
- Brevard County (Indian River Lagoon, EEE focus)
- Collier County (Big Cypress, Everglades edge)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting runs year-round in southern Florida, with the heaviest pressure from May through October when summer thunderstorms flood Cx. nigripalpus habitat. The Florida Keys and Miami-Dade can stretch active biting to 11 months in mild winters. WNV cases concentrate from July through October across central and southern Florida. EEE risk in Polk, Marion, and Brevard counties peaks late August through October. Local dengue transmission flares most often in late summer in Miami-Dade and Key West. Salt-marsh Aedes taeniorhynchus biting on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts spikes after high tides and tropical rain. Hurricane-driven flooding produces massive post-storm Aedes vexans and Psorophora hatches.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Southeast)
Florida Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Very High
- about 100 to 250 confirmed cases annually; highest absolute count in the Southeast
- EEE risk
- High; central Florida focus area
- Peak biting season
- year-round; peaks May through October
- Top urban risk areas
- Miami (Miami-Dade)
- Tampa (Hillsborough)
- Orlando (Orange)
- Jacksonville (Duval)
Signature habitat: Everglades, cypress swamps, mangrove coast, urban Miami catch basins, Keys hammocks.
Climate driver: Local dengue transmission documented in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys; only true year-round biting state in the lower 48.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
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Common Mosquitoes in Florida
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Florida helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
Asian Tiger Mosquito
Aedes albopictus
Risk: Eastern Equine Encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, dog heartworm.
Key feature: A single bright white stripe down the center of the back.
Active: Spring through first hard frost. Eggs overwinter in cold climates and hatch when flooded by spring rain.
Southern House Mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus
Risk: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Medium brown body with banded abdominal segments and no leg stripes.
Active: Year-round in the deep South; summer peak elsewhere. Most active from dusk through the first few hours after sunset.
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Risk: Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya.
Key feature: Black body with white lyre-shaped markings on the thorax.
Active: Year-round in southern Florida and the Gulf; summer-only further north.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Vector: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Rare but devastating, with roughly 30% case fatality. Concentrated in Northeast swamp areas and the Gulf Coast.
What to watch for
- Onset typically 2 to 15 days after a bite
- Most cases mild or asymptomatic, small fraction severe
- Neurological signs (severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion) need ER care
Breaking the Cycle in Florida
The mosquito lifecycle takes about a week. These habits cut local biting pressure faster than anything else, building multiple layers of protection.
Drain the Yard Weekly
Empty buckets, planter saucers, kiddie pools, tarps, and clogged gutters. A week of standing water is one full mosquito generation.
Repel Before Going Out
EPA-registered DEET (20-30%), picaridin (20%), IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply before going outside, especially at dusk and dawn.
Seal the House
Window and door screens with no tears. AC and porch fans both work. Mosquitoes struggle to fly upwind even at 1-2 mph air speed.
Treat Outdoor Clothing
Permethrin-treated long sleeves and pants for evening yard work, hiking, or fishing. Remains effective through 70+ wash cycles.
If You Develop Symptoms
Most mosquito bites are harmless. A small fraction can transmit illness, and knowing the timeline matters more than panicking at every itch.Five things to know.
Watch for fever
Fever, body aches, headache, or fatigue 2 to 15 days after a bite. West Nile often feels like flu, and most infections never get diagnosed.
Note where and when
A rough record of where and when you got bitten helps your doctor decide what to test for. Date, location, mosquito-heavy areas you visited.
Get help fast for neuro signs
Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, vision changes, or sudden muscle weakness can mean neuroinvasive WNV or EEE. Both are medical emergencies.
Pregnant exposure?
If pregnant and bitten in an area with documented Zika or local dengue transmission, mention to your OB. Same goes for travel exposure.
Children and seniors
Higher risk of severe disease from WNV, EEE, and dengue in adults over 60 and children under 5. Early call to the pediatrician or PCP if symptoms appear.
When does mosquito season end in Florida?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Florida typically arrives around Dec 10. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Florida first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Florida?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Florida tick forecast.
View Florida tick forecastStay Safe in Florida
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