Why Louisiana is one of the most mosquito infested states in the US

Bug spray is an everyday necessity in Louisiana, as mosquitoes in the state are active year-round.

Mosquitoes thrive in Louisiana’s climate, as ample rainfall and bodies of water provide optimal breeding grounds and the insects favor humidity and mild winters.

All of these factors contribute to the state’s high mosquito population, abundant number of mosquito species and high volume of West Nile cases reported annually.

Louisiana and mosquitoes

While the exact count of mosquitoes in Louisiana is impossible to calculate, the state is estimated to have the fourth highest mosquito population in the U.S.

The 10 states with the most mosquitoes, according to World Population Review:

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Georgia
4. Louisiana
5. Montana
6. North Carolina
7. Oklahoma
8. South Dakota
9. Texas
10. Virginia

The 10 states with the least mosquitoes, according to World Population Review:

1. Arizona
2. California
3. Delaware
4. Hawaii
5. Nevada
6. West Virginia
7. Alaska
8. Arkansas
9. Colorado
10. Connecticut

Louisiana has the fourth highest number of mosquito species. How many does the state have?

Louisiana is home to a total of 68 species of mosquito, making it the state with the fourth most species. The three most common species of mosquito in Louisiana include southern house mosquitoes, Asian tiger mosquitoes and floodwater mosquitoes, says J&J Exterminating.

Here’s how Louisiana compares to other states in terms of mosquito species, according to World Population Review:

1. Texas: 85
2. Florida: 80
3. New York: 70
4. Louisiana: 68
5. Georgia: 63
6. South Carolina: 61
7. Alabama: 60
8. Kentucky: 60
9. New Jersey: 60
10. North Carolina: 60
11. Oklahoma: 60
12. Pennsylvania: 60
13. Ohio: 59
14. Delaware: 57
15. Iowa: 57
16. New Mexico: 57
17. Wisconsin: 56
18. Arkansas: 55
19. Indiana: 55
20. Michigan: 55
21. Connecticut: 54
22. Illinois: 52
23. Massachusetts: 51
24. California: 50
25. Idaho: 50
26. Maryland: 50
27. Minnesota: 50
28. Mississippi: 50
29. Missouri: 50
30. Montana: 50
31. Nebraska: 50
32. Oregon: 50
33. Utah: 50
34. Virginia: 50
35. Rhode Island: 46
36. Colorado: 45
37. Maine: 45
38. Vermont: 45
39. Wyoming: 45
40. New Hampshire: 43
41. South Dakota: 43
42. Arizona: 40
43. Nevada: 40
44. Washington: 40
45. North Dakota: 38
46. Alaska: 30
47. West Virginia: 26
48. Tennessee: 9
49. Hawaii: 8
50. Kansas: 2

Louisiana among states that report the most cases of West Nile virus. How many cases were reported in 2025?

A total of 1,941 cases of West Nile virus were reported in the U.S. in 2025 and 64 were reported in Louisiana the same year, making the state rank ninth for total cases of West Nile reported in 2025.

West Nile virus has been actively spreading throughout Louisiana since its first detection in the state in 2002, says the Louisiana Department of Health.

How Louisiana compares to other states in terms of West Nile virus cases reported in 2025, according to World Population Review:

1. Colorado: 283
2. Illinois: 136
3. Minnesota: 112
4. Texas: 104
5. California: 98
6. North Dakota: 86
7. South Dakota: 86
8. Pennsylvania: 80
9. Louisiana: 64
10. Arizona: 63
11. New York: 56
12. Oklahoma: 53
13. Nebraska: 52
14. New Mexico: 51
15. Iowa: 49
16. Utah: 48
17. Michigan: 46
18. Ohio: 44
19. Indiana: 38
20. Kentucky: 35
21. Missouri: 34
22. Mississippi: 32
23. Kansas: 29
24. Maryland: 27
25. Wisconsin: 26
26. Virginia: 25
27. Alabama: 24
28. Arkansas: 24
29. New Jersey: 21
30. Tennessee: 16
31. Georgia: 15
32. Wyoming: 14
33. Montana: 11
34. Idaho: 9
35. Massachusetts: 9
36. North Carolina: 9
37. Connecticut: 6
38. Florida: 6
39. Washington, D.C.: 4
40. South Carolina: 4
41. Delaware: 3
42. Oregon: 2
43. Rhode Island: 2
44. Washington: 2
45. West Virginia: 2
46. Maine: 1

Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com