Today's Mosquito Risk in New York: 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 50 to 80 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- NYC heat island extends biting weeks; Adirondacks stay cool and short.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Kings, Queens, Bronx, Suffolk, Nassau (NYC and Long Island)
Current Situation in New York
New York carries one of the heavier WNV burdens in the Northeast, with roughly 50 to 80 confirmed human cases in a typical year and the bulk of those concentrated in New York City and Long Island. NYC's heat island stretches Cx. pipiens activity from late May into early October, and Aedes albopictus is firmly established across the five boroughs, Long Island, and the lower Hudson Valley. EEE is rare statewide but documented sporadically in upstate freshwater swamps. The Adirondacks and Catskills run cool with a compressed forest-mosquito season, while the Finger Lakes and Erie Canal corridor sit in between. Biting season runs late May through early October.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in New York, 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 York
New York mosquito habitat ranges from the salt marshes of Jamaica Bay and the South Shore of Long Island to the boreal beaver ponds of the Adirondacks. NYC catch basins and abandoned lot containers sustain dense Cx. pipiens and Aedes albopictus populations across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. The Hudson Valley wetlands from Westchester up through Dutchess and Ulster counties produce sustained summer Culex pressure. Upstate, the Mohawk Valley, Finger Lakes shorelines, and Lake Ontario plain hold steady seasonal populations.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Kings County (Brooklyn, urban Culex and Aedes albopictus)
- Queens County (Jamaica Bay salt marsh, dense urban biting)
- Bronx County (storm drains, abandoned lots)
- Suffolk County (Long Island salt marsh and pine barrens)
- Erie County (Buffalo metro, Lake Erie shoreline)
- Monroe County (Rochester, Genesee River)
- Albany County (Hudson River corridor)
- Adirondack Park and Catskills (forest Aedes off beaver ponds)
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in late May in NYC and the lower Hudson Valley, peaks late July through August, and tapers through September. WNV cases concentrate in August across the five boroughs, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley metros. Aedes albopictus daytime biting in city backyards and Long Island suburbs runs heavy from July into early October. Adirondack and Catskill forest biting peaks in early to mid July off snowmelt and beaver-pond hatches.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Mid-Atlantic)
New York Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 50 to 80 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Rare; sporadic upstate cases
- Peak biting season
- late May through early October
- Top urban risk areas
- New York City (Kings, Queens, Bronx)
- Buffalo (Erie)
- Rochester (Monroe)
- Albany (Albany)
Signature habitat: NYC catch basins, Long Island salt marsh, Hudson Valley wetlands, Adirondack forested swamps.
Climate driver: NYC heat island extends biting weeks; Adirondacks stay cool and short.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
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Common Mosquitoes in New York
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in New York 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 York
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 New York?
Live water temperatures and swim conditions for Lake George, Lake Placid, Seneca Lake, and 1 more.
See New York lake temperaturesWhen does mosquito season end in New York?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in New York typically arrives around Oct 5. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
New York first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in New York?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your New York tick forecast.
View New York tick forecastStay Safe in New York
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