HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is getting to be that time of the year when outdoor pests become a problem. According to Orkin, the Wichita/Hutchinson area is ranked 34th in the nation as one of the worst places for mosquitoes.

The pest control company released its list of top cities for mosquitoes. Kansas City was even worse, ranked at No. 9 in the nation. Atlanta was No. 1 on the list. The list always raises concern since the small pests carry a number of diseases.

Mosquito season starts when spring temperatures arrive. They are most active in temperatures above 80 degrees. Breeding season is usually July through September, while peak West Nile virus season is usually not until late August through September, or even October in some areas. Temperatures need to be around freezing before mosquitoes will start to die off for the winter.

Although the spread of Zika virus in the U.S. has significantly decreased — from 5,168 cases in 2016 to 433 cases in 2017 — it remains a concern because there is no treatment, cure or vaccine for the virus. One of the best strategies for eliminating mosquito-borne diseases is to reduce populations of the mosquitoes that spread them.