Today's Mosquito Risk in Minnesota: 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 60 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- Spring snowmelt produces massive Aedes vexans hatches statewide; BWCA boreal mosquitoes are legendary in early summer.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Hennepin, Ramsey (WNV); western Red River Valley counties (Cx. tarsalis)
Current Situation in Minnesota
Minnesota runs a moderate to high mosquito profile despite its short summer, with roughly 30 to 60 confirmed WNV cases annually and a biting load that has earned the mosquito its half-joking status as the unofficial state bird. Spring snowmelt drives massive Aedes vexans hatches statewide, and the 10,000-plus lakes provide endless breeding habitat. Cx. tarsalis dominates WNV transmission in the agricultural west and the Red River Valley, while Cx. pipiens drives transmission in the Twin Cities metro. Aedes albopictus presence is minimal so far. EEE is rare. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Arrowhead is legendary boreal mosquito country, with Aedes communis, Aedes provocans, and other woodland species producing biting clouds that punish early-season paddlers. Voyageurs National Park and the Lake of the Woods shoreline hold the same boreal pressure. Biting season runs June through August, compressed but intense.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Minnesota, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Moderate
- Peak Activity
- June through August
- Dominant Vector
- Northern House Mosquito (Culex pipiens); Western Encephalitis Mosquito (Culex tarsalis) western half
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Minnesota
Minnesota mosquito habitat is the richest in the Upper Midwest. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Voyageurs National Park hold boreal forest wetlands that produce massive spring Aedes communis and Aedes provocans hatches off snowmelt, with biting clouds that have shaped paddling lore for generations. The Mississippi headwaters at Lake Itasca and the cold lakes across the Iron Range round out the boreal habitat. The prairie pothole region across the western counties produces enormous Aedes vexans hatches after snowmelt and irrigation, with Cx. tarsalis populations sustained through summer. The Red River Valley along the North Dakota border holds dense agricultural Culex populations. Lake of the Woods shoreline marshes and the Lake Superior north shore hold seasonal Aedes hatches. Storm drains and tire piles across Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Duluth carry the urban Cx. pipiens load.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Hennepin County (Minneapolis metro)
- Ramsey County (St. Paul)
- Olmsted County (Rochester)
- St. Louis County (Duluth, Iron Range)
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
- Voyageurs National Park
- Lake of the Woods shoreline
- Red River Valley (Clay and Polk counties)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in late May in the Twin Cities and the southern prairie pothole region, peaks in late June through July, and tapers fast through August. WNV cases concentrate in August across the western agricultural counties and the Twin Cities metro. The BWCA and Voyageurs produce the heaviest spring Aedes vexans and boreal Aedes pulse from late May through June, with peak biting on the canoe-trip routes in mid to late June off snowmelt. The compressed summer season in the Arrowhead produces some of the most intense biting in the country for a 4 to 6 week window. Heavy summer storms produce floodwater Aedes pulses across the prairie pothole and river bottom counties. First frost in the north arrives in early September and ends the season fast.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Upper Midwest)
Minnesota Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- late May through September
- Top urban risk areas
- Minneapolis (Hennepin)
- St. Paul (Ramsey)
- Rochester (Olmsted)
- Duluth (St. Louis)
Signature habitat: prairie pothole region, Boundary Waters boreal wetlands, 10,000 lakes shoreline, Red River Valley.
Climate driver: Spring snowmelt produces massive Aedes vexans hatches statewide; BWCA boreal mosquitoes are legendary in early summer.
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Common Mosquitoes in Minnesota
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Minnesota helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
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.
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.
West Nile Virus
Vector: Inland Floodwater Mosquito
West Nile Virus
Confirmed but inefficient vector compared with Culex species. Local outbreaks usually involve Culex first.
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 Minnesota
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.
Heading to a lake in Minnesota?
Live water temperatures and swim conditions for Lake Minnetonka, Mille Lacs Lake, Lake Superior.
See Minnesota lake temperaturesWhen does mosquito season end in Minnesota?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Minnesota typically arrives around Sep 26. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Minnesota first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Minnesota?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Minnesota tick forecast.
View Minnesota tick forecastStay Safe in Minnesota
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