Today's Mosquito Risk in Kentucky: 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 10 to 30 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- Mississippi River corner counties carry the bulk of WNV burden; central Bluegrass stays moderate.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Jefferson, Fayette (WNV); Jackson Purchase counties (Mississippi floodplain)
Current Situation in Kentucky
Kentucky runs a low to moderate mosquito profile, with roughly 10 to 30 confirmed WNV cases annually. The bulk of cases land in Louisville and Lexington metros, with the Mississippi floodplain in the Jackson Purchase corner of far western Kentucky carrying disproportionate burden through Cx. quinquefasciatus and Aedes vexans pressure off the Delta climate. Aedes albopictus is expanding statewide and dominant in suburban daytime biting. EEE is rare. The Bluegrass karst springs and limestone basins around Lexington hold Cx. pipiens, while Daniel Boone National Forest and the Mammoth Cave region produce woodland Aedes off beaver ponds and forested wetlands. The Ohio River corridor sustains steady seasonal pressure. Biting season runs May through September.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Kentucky, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Low
- Peak Activity
- April through October
- Dominant Vector
- Northern House Mosquito (Culex pipiens); Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Kentucky
Kentucky mosquito habitat ranges from the Mississippi River floodplain in the Jackson Purchase to the Bluegrass karst springs and the Daniel Boone National Forest. The Jackson Purchase corner produces dense Cx. quinquefasciatus and Aedes vexans tied to the Mississippi Delta climate. The Ohio River bottomlands from Louisville through Owensboro and Paducah hold sustained Cx. pipiens and Aedes albopictus populations. The Bluegrass karst region around Lexington produces seasonal Cx. pipiens through limestone springs and sinkhole ponds. The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Mammoth Cave region hold woodland Aedes off beaver ponds. The Cumberland River corridor and Daniel Boone National Forest hollows round out the habitat mix.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Jefferson County (Louisville metro, Ohio River)
- Fayette County (Lexington, Bluegrass karst)
- Warren County (Bowling Green, Mammoth Cave region)
- Daviess County (Owensboro, Ohio River)
- Jackson Purchase counties (Mississippi floodplain)
- Land Between the Lakes
- Daniel Boone National Forest hollows
- Cumberland River corridor
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in early May in the Jackson Purchase, peaks late July through August, and tapers through September. WNV cases concentrate in August across Louisville, Lexington, and the Mississippi floodplain corner. The Jackson Purchase runs warmer and longer than the rest of the state, with biting tailing into October. Mammoth Cave region and Daniel Boone forest mosquitoes peak in mid to late July off beaver-pond hatches. Aedes albopictus daytime biting in suburban yards runs heavy from June through September. Heavy summer storms produce floodwater Aedes pulses along the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Southeast)
Kentucky Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Low
- about 10 to 30 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- May through September
- Top urban risk areas
- Louisville (Jefferson)
- Lexington (Fayette)
- Bowling Green (Warren)
Signature habitat: Bluegrass karst springs, Mississippi River floodplain (Jackson Purchase), Daniel Boone forested wetlands.
Climate driver: Mississippi River corner counties carry the bulk of WNV burden; central Bluegrass stays moderate.
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Common Mosquitoes in Kentucky
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Kentucky 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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Kentucky typically arrives around Oct 22. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Kentucky first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Kentucky?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Kentucky tick forecast.
View Kentucky tick forecastStay Safe in Kentucky
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