Is There Really a Mosquito Infestation in Las Vegas?

I just read an article that made me itch about the mosquito infestation in Las Vegas. Should I be concerned when I plan my next trip? Should this news article be the basis for a Q of the Day?

The conventional wisdom has always been that mosquitos can't survive the hot dry conditions of a desert, thriving instead in hot humid environments. But according to a recent report on NBC News, "Las Vegas' growing mosquito problem is a ticking time bomb."

The story avers that "these biting machines have exploded in number throughout the Las Vegas Valley in recent years because of a host of changes." Those include resistance to insecticides, genetic adaptations, and a moister urban environment. And Las Vegas is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, when it comes to expanding the geographic range in which mosquitos can live and breed, spreading throughout the desert Southwest.

It's not just the annoying bites that these relentless blood-suckers bring with them; the species that have invaded the valley include Culex, carriers of the West Nile virus (the symptoms of which are flu-like; 1% of those infected develop West Nile encephalitis), and Aedes aegypti, which can spread dengue fever (also flu-like, but symptoms can be severe, causing profuse bleeding, low blood pressure, and organ failure). Dengue cases have been increasing exponentially in North and South America over the past few years, with 13 million people infected in 2024 alone.

NBC News reported that last year, 26 cases of West Nile were discovered in people in Las Vegas, short of the record of 43 in 2019. But infectious-disease researchers identified "a record number of mosquitoes that tested positive for the virus in and around the city."

The West Nile carriers tend to breed near larger sources of water -- untended swimming pools, culverts, detention basins, and the like. But dengue carriers can breed in much shallower standing water, such as small buckets, wheelbarrows, children's toys, and puddles. This Aedes species was first discovered in Las Vegas in 2017 in just a couple of zip codes, but has now spread to nearly 50 around the valley.

So far, there's no coordinated effort by the city or county to control the mosquito population, which is most worrisome to Southern Nevada Health District researchers and investigators. They say that this is a preventable problem, but no large-scale prevention methods are being implemented and none are on the horizon.

So that's the recent coverage of the issue.

Now, a news story is one thing; direct experience on the ground is another. We queried five locals and one frequent visitor about the skeeter issue and here's what they said.

"I don't think I've ever seen a mosquito in Las Vegas."

"Zero mosquitoes, ever, for me. Seventy-nine trips. And I drive a car all over the place."

"I don't have a pool, so I've rarely seen mosquitos. Unless it's rained and there're large puddles of water, but those are rare too."

"Last year was the worst I've seen. This year, not at all."

"When this summer first started, I was bit up for like two weeks straight, because the mosquitos were so bad. We had to get one of those zapper lights!"

You can see that the view from ground level runs the gamut from none to too many. So how concerned should you be about visiting Vegas? We'd say it's one concern among many, which you'll have to judge for yourself.

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Comments

Gregory Sep-08-2025

State Bird

I live in Minnesota. The mosquito is referred to as our unofficial state bird. I am highly allergic to them.  I get welts that itch for a week.  I avoid them, which is fairly easy to do. They are most active in early morning and later evening. I just stay indoors or use repellent.  I haven't had a single bit this season.

Cal Sep-08-2025

Mosquitos

Has anyone ever been anywhere where there weren't mosquitos?
I have. Spent 2 years in Antarctica (really). And believe me,
I don't recommend relocating.

William Franklin Sep-08-2025

Bloodsuckers

Iceland has NO mosquitos

Michael Myers Sep-08-2025

No problem

Having lived my entire 75 years in SFla where these salt marsh mosquitoes can literally carry you off I would have no problem visiting the deserts of Southern Nevada.

John Hearn Sep-08-2025

Nosquito Paradise

For us it is Beech Mountain, NC. Two weeks every August and nary a skeeter in sight.

O2bnVegas Sep-08-2025

No scam, just opportunity

The mosquito has been our 'state bird' for as long as I've lived here (not Nevada).  I'm blessed to have lawn care services available, but of course they aren't free.  I've reached the age where I do pay for some service since my husband passed, includiing some lawn services.  But I'm passing on one of the latest offerings, 'mosquito prevention.'  It may be the best thing ever, but I've survived 77 summers of mosquito bites and I'm passing on paying for that one.  After all, I'm not locked into just my yard, and those guys are anywhere and everywhere.

Now, if somebody could guarantee that they had a fool proof method to prevent mole invasion, I'm in!  P.S. I've tried "Mole Scram" already, but thanks anyway!

Candy

Gene Brown Sep-08-2025

Cause and Effect!

Mosquitos need to lay eggs in water to hatch a new generation. Those storm drains and stagnant swimming pools in the Valley are the primary sources of generating the mosquito population. Heat waves don’t disrupt their survival rate. I have lived in Florida my entire life. The only way mosquitoes can be eradicated is by taking away stagnant swimming pool water and standing water.

Kevin Lewis Sep-08-2025

Bloodsuckers

Have been present in Vegas since 1931 and are a vital part of the local ecology.

Duane Ragan Sep-08-2025

SC State Bird

We joke around here in South Carolina that Mosquito is our state bird! They are big

asaidi Sep-08-2025

Do not open air vents

I remember I stayed at Planet Hollywood a few years ago and there was a note on the vent at the bottom of the windows (to let some air in) "DO NOT OPEN" because of bugs that sit in the vents.  I don't think it was specifically mosquitos though.

T. Ferguson Sep-08-2025

Economy

I believe that Kevin meant 'economy', not 'ecology'.

Jon Anderson Sep-08-2025

mosquitos

the number one killer of humans in all their history is not plagues, wars, etc. but the small common mosquito...or so i read somewhere...hate 'em in south texas...

vegasnow Sep-08-2025

In the Burbs

I think the mosquito problem, such as it is, is mostly in the suburbs where there are more sources of standing water. They are definitely breeding in the southeastern wetlands and at certain times of the year I have seen visible swarms of them out at Lake Las Vegas.

Llew Sep-09-2025

Sleeters

- back in the early 60s, my family vacationed every year at the South Jersey shore. Every evening, a truck would go around and spray anti-mosquito crap into the air. My brothers and other stupid kids would run behind the truck.  Why? Nobody knows. Fun times. 🙄
- George Carlin used to say that only female mosquitoes bite and only male mosquitos buzz. So if you are lying in bed and hear buzzing, no problem, you’re safe.  But if you don’t hear anything……

Question of the Day - 08 September 2025

Comments