Today's Mosquito Risk in Kansas: 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 30 to 80 confirmed cases annually
- high per-capita
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 2: High Pressure
- Cx. tarsalis dominates WNV transmission; Aedes vexans surges follow heavy summer storms.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte, Shawnee (metros); central and western irrigated counties (Cx. tarsalis)
Current Situation in Kansas
Kansas runs one of the highest per-capita WNV burdens in the country, with roughly 30 to 80 confirmed human cases annually concentrated across the Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka, and Overland Park metros and the irrigated farm counties of the central and western tier. The state sits squarely in the Plains Cx. tarsalis regime, and the agricultural Culex is the dominant WNV vector across rural Kansas, very different from the Cx. pipiens pattern seen in eastern states. Center pivot irrigation across the High Plains and the Arkansas River bottoms sustain dense Cx. tarsalis populations through summer. Aedes vexans floodwater hatches follow heavy thunderstorms across the Flint Hills and Smoky Hills. Aedes albopictus is established across the eastern half. EEE is rare. Biting season runs June through September.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Kansas, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Moderate
- Peak Activity
- June through September
- Dominant Vector
- Western Encephalitis Mosquito (Culex tarsalis) statewide and dominant WNV vector
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Kansas
Kansas mosquito habitat is built on irrigated agriculture, prairie wetlands, and the major river bottomlands. Center pivot irrigation across the central and western counties produces some of the densest Cx. tarsalis populations in the country, with the Arkansas River bottoms from Garden City through Wichita as the spine of the agricultural Culex zone. Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest interior wetland in the country, sits in Barton County and produces enormous summer Culex and Aedes vexans populations alongside Quivira National Wildlife Refuge to the southwest. Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge in the north central counties holds steady Cx. tarsalis numbers through summer. The Kansas River and Republican River corridors carry seasonal Aedes vexans floods. The Flint Hills and Smoky Hills hold tallgrass prairie wetlands. Storm drains and tire piles across Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City KS, and Topeka carry the urban Cx. pipiens and Aedes albopictus load.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Sedgwick County (Wichita, Arkansas River)
- Johnson County (Overland Park)
- Wyandotte County (Kansas City KS)
- Shawnee County (Topeka, Kansas River)
- Cheyenne Bottoms (Barton County, largest interior wetland in the country)
- Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
- Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge
- Konza Prairie (Riley County, Flint Hills)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in late May across the southern counties, mid June statewide, peaks in late July through August, and tapers through September. WNV cases concentrate in August across the irrigated farm counties and the Wichita and Kansas City metros. Cx. tarsalis populations build through July as the irrigation cycle hits full stride and stay elevated through August. Heavy summer thunderstorms produce sharp Aedes vexans pulses across the Flint Hills, Smoky Hills, and the river bottoms. Aedes albopictus daytime biting in eastern suburban yards runs heavy from July through September. The Konza Prairie and Cheyenne Bottoms hold peak biting through July and August.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Plains)
Kansas Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 30 to 80 confirmed cases annually; high per-capita
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- June through September
- Top urban risk areas
- Wichita (Sedgwick)
- Overland Park (Johnson)
- Kansas City (Wyandotte)
- Topeka (Shawnee)
Signature habitat: irrigated agriculture, Arkansas River bottoms, Flint Hills tallgrass wetlands, post-storm floodwater.
Climate driver: Cx. tarsalis dominates WNV transmission; Aedes vexans surges follow heavy summer storms.
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Common Mosquitoes in Kansas
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Kansas helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
Northern House Mosquito
Culex pipiens
Risk: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Medium brown body with banded abdomen. Looks nearly identical to Cx. quinquefasciatus.
Active: Late spring through early fall in the north. Adult females overwinter in basements, garages, and storm drains.
Inland Floodwater Mosquito
Aedes vexans
Risk: Aggressive nuisance biter. Weak vector for West Nile, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Brown body with pale bands on the legs and a tapered abdomen.
Active: Spring through fall. Population spikes a week or two after major rain events.
West Nile Virus
Vector: Northern House Mosquito
West Nile Virus
The dominant West Nile vector across the northern half of the US. About 80% of infections are asymptomatic.
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 Kansas
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 Kansas?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Kansas typically arrives around Oct 20. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Kansas first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Kansas?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Kansas tick forecast.
View Kansas tick forecastStay Safe in Kansas
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