The iconic city of Los Angeles is known for its glitz and glamour. But it’s not just the City of Angels anymore—it’s also a city of mosquitoes. Orkin’s 2026 Mosquito Cities List reveals that LA has become the most mosquito-infested city in the U.S. This year has been especially nightmarish for the residents, thanks to a series of heatwaves and an extra-powerful El Niño.
Locals report a year of misery as swarms of bugs infest backyards, turning al fresco into an ankle-biting nightmare. Southern California residents are reporting a difficult year as clouds of bugs infest backyards. This year has seen a significant mosquito infestation, causing a spike in West Nile virus cases and raising concerns that these pests could spread other diseases, including dengue.
According to The Guardian, Los Angeles County has recorded over 180 cases of West Nile virus this year—the highest spike in nearly a decade, according to the local public health department. With moisture in this week’s forecast and overnight temperatures expected to remain above 50°F, local authorities said the decade-long mosquito problem may not be contained anytime soon.
Southern California residents had to fight mosquito infestations daily
I’ve been here my whole life and the amount of mosquitoes I’ve seen this summer has been insane,” said this TikTok user who goes by @reverielove in a video. “Everyone is talking about them … You can’t even go to your backyard. You can’t even sit in your car with the windows down. They’re infested everywhere.”
@reverielove Who else has noticed this mosquito outbreak?! 😤 there are more mosquitoes this year than ever before in Los Angeles!!! #reverielove♬ Mozart/Requiem “Lacrimosa”(1394506) – Mint
“It’s an absolute nightmare,” El Segundo resident Truman Hedding told Fox 11 News earlier this year. “We invest a lot of money to live in a beautiful town like El Segundo. The last thing we want is to stay up all night fighting mosquitoes.”
SoCal hasn’t always been such a mosquito hotspot. In a report by The Guardian, the region’s native ‘Culex’ mosquito picks up West Nile from wild birds before passing it on to humans. Vector control officials in nearby Orange County have pulled a large number of traps loaded with West Nile-positive bugs, The Guardian reports.
Meanwhile, the invasive species known as ‘Aedes’ mosquitoes are the usual “ankle-biters” because they specifically target human legs and bite multiple times in one go. Aedes are not associated with West Nile virus, but they are known spreaders of diseases including dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever.
Published: Oct 12, 2026 12:15 pm