Crawling Your Way...

By Molly Worthen Tuesday, June 24, 2003
    • DOUG WELLS/DES MOINES REGISTER/AP PHOTO

    On West Nile's trail: entomologist Wayne Rowley

    A mild winter and heavy spring rains across much of the country have led to predictions that the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, which killed 284 Americans last year, will be even worse this summer. But while West Nile prevention and surveillance programs are heating up around the country, mosquito breeding depends on capricious factors like local ecological systems, making it difficult to tell how bad this year's infestation will ultimately be. But West Nile — bearing mosquitoes are hardly the only pests looking to have a big summer.

    MORMON CRICKETS The worst cricket year in decades is devastating millions of acres of farmland in Utah and other Western states. Snowplows are out clearing roads made as slick as ice with crushed insects

    CARPENTER BEES Experts say the carpenter-bee population in the Midwest is up as much as 50% this year. The huge bees rarely sting, but they can drill holes a half-inch in diameter and a foot deep into the side of a house

    ANTS Native ants are the fastest-growing household pests, report experts from Orkin and Terminix. Imported fire ants have spread well beyond what was predicted when the stinging insects were accidentally introduced into the southern U.S. decades ago

    BEDBUGS Yes, they still bite. They have surged in major cities — and not just in flophouse hotels. Experts attribute the infestation to greater numbers of travelers inadvertently bringing them back from overseas