Highlights
- Maricopa County Vector Control is warning residents that heavy rainfall this week will likely trigger a surge in floodwater mosquitoes.
- John Townsend of Vector Control says mosquitoes could emerge in yards within four to five days of water collection.
- Mosquito activity typically peaks in September and October, and Arizona leads the nation with 85 reported West Nile virus cases this year.
- Residents are advised to remove standing water, repair screen doors, and wear repellent.
Maricopa County's Vector Control Division is warning Valley homeowners that floodwater mosquitoes are likely to emerge in the next four to five days following this week's heavy rains, which sent water across roads and prompted multiple rescues across the county.
John Townsend with Vector Control told Arizona's Family that the more water collected, the greater the chance mosquitoes will appear in yards. Floodwater mosquitoes, he noted, are the variety that bite ankles during daylight hours. The county places larvicide at more than 4,000 sites and sets traps as part of its year-round surveillance program.
Townsend said mosquito activity typically peaks in September and October, and he expects complaint calls to increase. Arizona currently leads the nation with 85 reported West Nile virus cases, according to the CDC, though Vector Control has not detected any West Nile-positive mosquitoes in the past two months.
Residents can reduce risk by removing standing water from yards, checking items such as wheelbarrows and tarps where water collects unseen, ensuring screen doors are properly sealed, and wearing insect repellent. The Flood Control District of Maricopa County continues to monitor flooded roadways across the region.
Vector Control also accepts public complaints about mosquitoes, feral bees, flies, and roof rats. Townsend expects call volume to rise through October.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 17/09/2026 18:23
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 17/09/2026 18:23. Every claim traces to a source.
