Arizona storms bring mosquito infestation

PHOENIX – Arizona’s barrage of rainstorms in recent months has created an unlikely pest infestation for the desert region: mosquitoes.

The storms – including one that began Wednesday – have established a breeding ground for mosquitoes that some longtime Phoenix residents say are as bad as they can remember.

Maricopa County environmental officials say they have received more than 10,000 mosquito-related complaints this year. County spokesman Johnny Dilone said that is nearly double the number of calls from the same period in 2013.

“We’re working a lot of hours and spraying in more places,” Dilone said. “We’ve been seeing a lot of mosquitoes; a majority of them are floodwater mosquitoes. Those are the ones that have been generating most of the calls.”

The uptick has left residents scratching their heads – as well as arms, legs and other body parts – at having to deal with unexpected insect bites.

Leslie Meehan, of Maricopa, said nothing has worked to get the pests out of her yard.

“We’re a smorgasbord for these heat-seeking missiles with wings,” Meehan said. She compared it to a mauling – “I’ve got 32 bites on one arm.”

The county traps mosquitoes to test for West Nile Virus.

More than 180 mosquito samples taken from traps this year have tested positive for the virus, Dilone said.

There have been 44 cases of people infected with the virus this year in Maricopa County. Six people have died.