Today's Mosquito Risk in New Jersey: 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 60 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- EEE risk plus dense suburbia and salt marsh make NJ the highest-pressure Mid-Atlantic state.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Middlesex (WNV); Burlington and Ocean (EEE)
Current Situation in New Jersey
New Jersey runs the highest mosquito pressure in the Mid-Atlantic, combining dense suburban Cx. pipiens, statewide Aedes albopictus, Atlantic salt marsh, and one of the country's most consequential EEE focus areas in the Pine Barrens. WNV burden lands at roughly 40 to 60 confirmed human cases annually, with most concentrated in the Newark and Jersey City corridor and the Toms River suburban belt. Pine Barrens cedar swamps in Burlington and Ocean counties produce Culiseta melanura, the bird-feeding bridge vector that drives EEE amplification each late summer. Aedes sollicitans saltmarsh biting hammers Jersey Shore towns from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Biting season runs late May through early October.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in New Jersey, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Moderate
- Peak Activity
- May through September
- Dominant Vector
- Northern House Mosquito (Culex pipiens)
Where Mosquitoes Breed in New Jersey
New Jersey mosquito habitat is the densest in the region. Pine Barrens freshwater swamps across Wharton State Forest and the Mullica River basin produce the EEE bridge vector. Atlantic salt marsh from Sandy Hook down through Cape May produces enormous Aedes sollicitans hatches that drift miles inland on sea breezes. The Meadowlands tidal complex feeds the Newark and Jersey City urban biting load. Great Swamp NWR in Morris County and the Hackensack River wetlands sustain steady Culex populations. Storm drains and tire piles across Essex, Hudson, and Passaic counties carry the urban Aedes albopictus.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Essex County (Newark metro urban Culex and albopictus)
- Hudson County (Jersey City, Meadowlands)
- Passaic County (Paterson, Hackensack River wetlands)
- Ocean County (Toms River, Pine Barrens swamps)
- Burlington County (Wharton State Forest, EEE focus area)
- Cape May County (salt marsh, beach towns)
- Atlantic County (coastal salt marsh, Pine Barrens edge)
- Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Morris County)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in late May, peaks late July through August, and tapers through September with a long tail into early October. WNV cases cluster in August across the northern metros and the Toms River corridor. EEE risk concentrates in late August through September in the Pine Barrens swamp counties. Aedes sollicitans biting on the Jersey Shore spikes around full-moon high tides that flood the back marsh. Suburban Aedes albopictus daytime biting runs heavy from July through early October.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Mid-Atlantic)
New Jersey Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 40 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- EEE focus area in Pine Barrens freshwater swamps
- Peak biting season
- late May through early October
- Top urban risk areas
- Newark (Essex)
- Jersey City (Hudson)
- Paterson (Passaic)
- Trenton (Mercer)
Signature habitat: Pine Barrens cedar swamps, Jersey Shore salt marsh, Meadowlands tidal.
Climate driver: EEE risk plus dense suburbia and salt marsh make NJ the highest-pressure Mid-Atlantic state.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
Ready to see current mosquito activity in your area? Get today's forecast and personalized risk assessment for your ZIP code.
Common Mosquitoes in New Jersey
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in New Jersey 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.
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.
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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in New Jersey typically arrives around Oct 20. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
New Jersey first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in New Jersey?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your New Jersey tick forecast.
View New Jersey tick forecastStay Safe in New Jersey
Get personalized mosquito forecasts and prevention tips for your area