Michael Acoba
For species dependent on monsoon flooding in desert southwest, mosquitoes unwelcome competition
When the monsoon rains settle over Tucson and the rest of the U.S. southwest, they bring with them enough rain that water-dependent species go into hyperdrive. They must feed, mate, breed and create life in the shadow of a few days or weeks. But with the arrival of West Nile virus, cities are moving to rid the area of water — and breeding grounds for all kinds of animals — faster than ever.