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New York · Mosquito Season Guide

Is it mosquito season in New York?

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II. New York Mosquito Season Month by month

New York City's 1999 West Nile Virus outbreak was the first detection of that virus in the Western Hemisphere. From Long Island's coastal marshes to the Adirondack foothills, season length and intensity shift significantly across the state.

NYC Metro / Long Island
New York City · Long Island · Westchester
Hudson Valley / Capital
Albany · Poughkeepsie · Binghamton
Western NY / Upstate
Buffalo · Rochester · Syracuse · Adirondacks
Very Low Low Moderate High Very High taller = more active · color = severity
~70
mosquito species recorded in New York
1999
Queens, NYC: first US West Nile Virus detection
May–Sep
typical active season statewide
1,800+
Long Island trap-nights run annually by control districts

NYC Metro and Long Island: the epicenter

The five boroughs and Long Island sit at the center of New York's mosquito story. The extensive saltmarshes, freshwater wetlands, and drainage infrastructure of Long Island create some of the most productive breeding habitat in the Northeast — Nassau and Suffolk counties run two of the most aggressive mosquito control programs in the country. In the city itself, the 1999 outbreak that killed seven people and sickened dozens more was traced to Culex pipiens breeding in a stagnant ornamental pond at the Bronx Zoo. Today, NYC DEP and state DEC run year-round WNV surveillance across all five boroughs.

Hudson Valley and Capital Region

Albany, the Hudson Valley, and the Southern Tier follow a reliable May-through-September season. The Hudson River corridor and its tributaries support large Culex pipiens populations, while suburban sprawl in Westchester and Rockland counties provides abundant container habitat for the Asian tiger mosquito. The Catskills act as a natural temperature buffer — above roughly 1,500 feet, activity compresses into a June-to-August window.

Western New York and Upstate

Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse experience a genuine off-season from October through April. The Great Lakes moderate temperatures somewhat, extending the shoulder season slightly compared to inland areas, but the compressed summer remains the active window. The Adirondacks and Tug Hill Plateau — with cold temperatures and significant snowpack — see the shortest season of any region in the state, typically June through August.

III. New York's Three Species to Know
Culex pipiens (Northern house mosquito) macro photograph
Culex pipiens
Northern House Mosquito

The primary West Nile Virus vector in New York — the species at the center of the 1999 Queens outbreak, the first WNV detection in the Western Hemisphere. A dusk-to-dawn biter that bridges bird and human hosts. Breeds in stagnant, organically rich water: storm drains, catch basins, clogged gutters, birdbaths. Present statewide, most abundant in urban and suburban areas.

Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) macro photograph
Aedes albopictus
Asian Tiger Mosquito

Well established in New York City, Long Island, and lower Hudson Valley, and spreading northward. An aggressive daytime biter that makes outdoor time uncomfortable regardless of the hour. Breeds in containers as small as a bottle cap. Increasingly common in Westchester and Rockland counties; isolated populations now reported as far north as the Capital District.

Aedes japonicus (Asian bush mosquito) macro photograph
Aedes japonicus
Asian Bush Mosquito

An invasive species first detected in New Jersey and New York in 1998, now widespread across all of New York State including upstate. Cold-tolerant — one of the few species active at temperatures as low as 50°F. Breeds in rock pools, tires, and containers. Capable of vectoring West Nile Virus and has been found WNV-positive in multiple NY surveillance programs.

West Nile Virus is an ongoing risk in New York. Culex pipiens maintains active WNV transmission cycles in the state every year, particularly in late summer. NYC and Long Island run trap-based surveillance programs — check the NY State DOH WNV page for current season case counts.

IV. New York Cities at a Glance
City Peak Season Off-Season Notes
New York City May – Sep Off Nov–Apr WNV surveillance year-round; Asian tiger mosquito established in all 5 boroughs; 1999 outbreak traced to Bronx Zoo; catch basins are primary breeding sites Check live
Long Island May – Oct Low Nov–Apr Saltmarsh and freshwater wetlands create intense seasonal pressure; Nassau and Suffolk counties run among the most active control programs in the Northeast Check live
Albany May – Sep Off Oct–Apr Capital district; Hudson River corridor; Asian tiger mosquito spreading into suburban neighborhoods; manageable with container removal Check live
Buffalo Jun – Sep Off Oct–May Shorter season than downstate; Lake Erie moderates temperature; Niagara River corridor; pressure concentrated in July–August Check live
Rochester Jun – Sep Off Oct–May Lake Ontario shoreline; Monroe County active control program; Genesee River bottomlands; compressed but real summer season Check live
Syracuse May – Sep Off Oct–Apr Onondaga Lake and surrounding wetlands; Central NY; slightly longer season than western NY due to inland positioning Check live
Binghamton May – Sep Off Oct–Apr Southern Tier; Susquehanna River corridor; moderate pressure; Catskill foothills provide some natural buffer Check live
More State Guides
Florida Year-round activity in the south — 80+ species including invasive Ae. aegypti and the Asian tiger mosquito across all 67 counties Texas ~85 species across four climate zones — Gulf Coast active March through November, with year-round pressure in the Rio Grande Valley California Central Valley is the #1 West Nile corridor in the US — invasive Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus now established in 20+ counties Georgia Atlanta metro leads the Southeast in Asian tiger mosquito density — active statewide March through November Illinois Home of the 2002 Cook County West Nile outbreak — the deadliest urban WNV event in US history — peak season June through September Ohio Lake Erie to the Ohio River — WNV active in Franklin and Cuyahoga counties, with floodwater species surging after summer storms Pennsylvania Philadelphia WNV corridor meets rural EEE risk in western PA — the densest human population in the mid-Atlantic mosquito belt Michigan Site of the 2019 EEE outbreak — the deadliest in decades — 10 human cases and 6 deaths concentrated in SW Michigan Great Lakes wetlands New Jersey Oldest organized county mosquito control in the US (1914) — Pine Barrens EEE corridor and fierce salt marsh Shore species Virginia Tidewater season runs April–October — the longest mid-Atlantic window — with the Great Dismal Swamp as an active EEE hotspot North Carolina The coastal plain runs one of the longest seasons in the Southeast — NC leads the nation in La Crosse encephalitis cases from the Appalachian foothills Maryland Chesapeake Bay watershed creates extraordinary mosquito habitat — tidal marshes, Eastern Shore wetlands, and the DC-Baltimore corridor combine for dense seasonal pressure Tennessee Memphis and the Mississippi River corridor historically record the highest WNV case counts in the mid-South — Ae. albopictus has colonized all 95 counties Indiana Indiana sits at the crossroads of the Great Lakes EEE belt — Lake Michigan wetlands in the north and the Wabash River floodplain drive intense seasonal pressure Louisiana The Gulf Coast's most intense pressure — coastal marshes and summer rains keep Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti active from March through November Alabama Mobile Bay to the Tennessee Valley — Ae. albopictus has reached all 67 counties and peak WNV season runs June through September South Carolina Low Country marshes produce some of the Southeast's densest Anopheles and Culex populations — season runs March through November Minnesota 10,000 lakes means 10,000 breeding sites — the Northwoods sees intense but short July–August peaks, while the Twin Cities face a longer June–September window Wisconsin Great Lakes wetlands and the Mississippi River backwaters drive strong WNV pressure in the Milwaukee corridor — peak season July through August Missouri At the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers — St. Louis historically ranks among the highest WNV cities in the US — season May through October Arkansas Delta rice-field flooding and the Arkansas River bottomlands create some of the highest rural mosquito pressure in the mid-South — active April through October Washington Western WA stays mild and damp year-round; the Yakima Valley and Columbia Basin face the highest WNV risk in the Pacific Northwest — peak July through September Arizona Monsoon season (July–September) drives sudden mosquito explosions across the Valley of the Sun — WNV detected annually Colorado Front Range WNV corridor stretches Denver to Fort Collins — eastern plains carry the state's highest risk Connecticut Connecticut River valley WNV pressure meets EEE risk in inland freshwater wetlands — active May through October Delaware Chesapeake and Delaware Bay marshes create outsized pressure for the nation's second-smallest state Hawaii Year-round activity at sea level — no native species, but Ae. aegypti and tiger mosquitoes established statewide Idaho Snake River Plain irrigation districts fuel summer WNV pressure — season June through September Iowa Mississippi River corridor and prairie wetlands drive intense June–September pressure — WNV active statewide Kansas Great Plains WNV corridor — Wichita and Kansas City see peak pressure July–August; floodwater species surge after storms Kentucky Ohio River corridor and Kentucky Lake wetlands sustain a long April–October season across all 120 counties Maine Short but intense July–August season — EEE detected in some years in the southern coastal plain Massachusetts EEE fatality rate exceeds 30% — the Plymouth County swamp complex is the active epicenter — season May through October Mississippi Gulf Coast near-year-round pressure meets Delta rice-field flooding for one of the South's most intense mosquito environments Montana Yellowstone and Missouri River corridors drive a compressed June–August season — WNV detected most years in eastern MT Nebraska Platte River valley and eastern Nebraska are among the Great Plains' most active WNV zones — peak July–August Nevada Las Vegas monsoon season drives July–September activity; Reno irrigation districts fuel a parallel northern peak New Hampshire EEE detected most years — the southern lakes and coastal plain are in the active Northeast EEE corridor New Mexico Monsoon season (July–September) creates sudden breeding habitat; WNV circulates in the Rio Grande valley annually North Dakota Red River Valley flooding produces some of the Great Plains' most extreme floodwater mosquito events — peak June–August Oklahoma One of the South-Central's most intense seasons — the Arkansas and Red River corridors sustain populations April through October Oregon Eastern Oregon Columbia Basin is the state's WNV hotspot; western Oregon runs a mild coastal season June through September Rhode Island New England's densest coastal pressure — Narragansett Bay salt marshes and WNV active in all five counties South Dakota Missouri River and James River valleys drive summer WNV activity — eastern SD sees the most intense pressure Utah Salt Lake Valley WNV corridor and irrigation districts sustain a July–September peak — drier areas see limited activity Vermont Champlain Valley runs Vermont's longest season — EEE detected in the Lake Champlain lowlands in some years West Virginia Kanawha and Ohio River valleys sustain a May–October season — Ae. albopictus now established statewide Wyoming The shortest meaningful season of any contiguous US state — North Platte valley WNV window is just 6–8 weeks
West Nile, dengue, and EEE: US disease risk by region → Asian tiger mosquitoes: why you're getting bitten during the day → Eliminating standing water: the highest-leverage yard move →