Today's Mosquito Risk in Nebraska: 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 40 to 100 confirmed cases annually
- very high per-capita
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 2: High Pressure
- Platte River valley irrigated agriculture sustains some of the densest Cx. tarsalis populations in the country.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Hall (metros); Platte Valley and central irrigated counties (Cx. tarsalis)
Current Situation in Nebraska
Nebraska carries one of the very highest per-capita WNV burdens in the country, with roughly 40 to 100 confirmed human cases annually distributed across the Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, and Grand Island metros and the irrigated Platte River corridor. The Platte Valley irrigated agriculture sustains some of the densest Cx. tarsalis populations anywhere, and the agricultural Culex drives WNV transmission across rural Nebraska from the Wyoming border east. The Sandhills hold prairie wetland habitat across nearly a quarter of the state, producing steady summer Cx. tarsalis and Aedes vexans populations. Aedes vexans floodwater hatches follow heavy summer storms statewide. Aedes albopictus is rare and limited to the eastern metros. EEE is rare. The Pine Ridge in the northwest holds drier woodland habitat. Biting season runs June through September.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Nebraska, 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 Nebraska
Nebraska mosquito habitat is built on the Platte River corridor, the Sandhills, and the irrigated farm grid. The Platte River valley from North Platte through Grand Island and Lincoln to the Missouri River sits at the heart of the agricultural Culex zone, with center pivot irrigation across the central and western counties producing some of the densest Cx. tarsalis populations in the country. The Sandhills cover nearly 20,000 square miles of grass-stabilized dunes with thousands of small lakes and prairie wetlands, sustaining steady summer Cx. tarsalis and Aedes vexans populations. Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Valentine National Wildlife Refuge hold dense Sandhills wetland mosquito habitat. The Crane Trust wetlands along the central Platte hold seasonal Aedes vexans floods. The Niobrara River, Republican River, and Missouri River bottomlands carry steady summer mosquito populations. Storm drains and tire piles across Omaha, Lincoln, and Bellevue carry the urban Cx. pipiens load.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Douglas County (Omaha metro)
- Lancaster County (Lincoln)
- Sarpy County (Bellevue)
- Hall County (Grand Island, Platte River)
- Crane Trust wetlands (central Platte)
- Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (Sandhills)
- Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (Sandhills)
- Pine Ridge (Dawes and Sioux counties)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in late May across the southeastern counties, mid June statewide, peaks late July through August, and tapers through September. WNV cases concentrate in August across the Platte Valley irrigated counties and the Omaha and Lincoln 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 along the Platte, Niobrara, Republican, and Missouri bottoms. Crane Trust wetlands hold peak biting through July and August. Sandhills wetland populations stay steady from June through September with the prairie water table.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Plains)
Nebraska Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 40 to 100 confirmed cases annually; very high per-capita
- EEE risk
- Rare
- Peak biting season
- June through September
- Top urban risk areas
- Omaha (Douglas)
- Lincoln (Lancaster)
- Bellevue (Sarpy)
- Grand Island (Hall)
Signature habitat: Platte River corridor, Sandhills wetlands, Republican and Niobrara floodplains, irrigated cornfields.
Climate driver: Platte River valley irrigated agriculture sustains some of the densest Cx. tarsalis populations in the country.
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Common Mosquitoes in Nebraska
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Nebraska 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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Nebraska typically arrives around Oct 10. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Nebraska first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Nebraska?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Nebraska tick forecast.
View Nebraska tick forecastStay Safe in Nebraska
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