Mosquito Genocide, Why Not
There’s an article in Nature saying that were mosquitoes to disappear, they would not be missed. Ecologically that is. There are, or course, significant caveats, but some scientists seem to think that the mosquitoes positive ecological niche would be quickly filled. Mosquitoes are rather horrid creatures that carry horrid diseases like malaria, dengue and chikunguniya. Less people would die were they genocided and African nations in particular would even significantly improve their GDP (due to reduced health costs and great productivity). The danger is that eliminating mosquitoes would mess up the circle of life, but at least a few scientists seem to say the disruption wouldn’t be so bad.
“They don’t occupy an unassailable niche in the environment,” says entomologist Joe Conlon, of the American Mosquito Control Association in Jacksonville, Florida. “If we eradicated them tomorrow, the ecosystems where they are active will hiccup and then get on with life. Something better or worse would take over.” (nature.com)
I have personal beef with mosquitoes because they buzz in my ear, adding insult to injury. I, hence, do not mind their elimination, provided that it doesn’t mess with the ecosystem. Indeed, only females of certain mosquito species require blood, so it’s wouldn’t be complete destruction. The only question is how. DDT can kill mosquitoes in large numbers, but it can also cause health problems in humans and they develop an immunity. Perhaps we could just find a sound that irritates them so much they want to die, which is what they’re currently doing to me.
this calls for a global ‘save the mosquitoes’ movement. just cause
Killing mosquitos (or flies of any such species) doesn’t work.
Why?
A single mosquito lays thousands of eggs. Most of them (say 99.99%) die because they don’t get resources to live. Mosquito density is limited only by the resources.
We are only trying to kill is the remaining (say 0.01% for the sake of example) who are lucky to live.
Any remaining mosquitos will continue to breed, and they will soon multiply, againonly limited by the resources.
So the only solution, please correct if I am wrong, is to limit the favourable conditions of the mosquitos to breed and live, so instead of 99.99% (say), 99.9999% will die on the way.
We have tried this method successfully to eradicate flies at our home.
Not to mention (like Indi correctly points out) other ecosystems effected.
Now, this made me smile !
Smiling is good. ;-)
When pesticides are used, almost all mosquitoes die. Almost all, but not all of them.
The ones remaining have their reasons to survive. Apart from sheer luck, they are likely to have better instincts to know that harm is on the way.
It takes only a matter of weeks for the remaining ones to multiply to the former levels. And they inherit those surviving genes.
We are left with a generation of mosquitoes with better survive skills against another pesticide attack.
It takes generations for this evolution to take place for any species. With the massive birth rate and short time period per generation (weeks, not years) mosquitoes get there quickly.
I read on the BBC about this technique called SIT (sterilization insect technique) that the International Atomic Energy Agency are looking to customize for malaria. Aparently SIT has already worked well on fruit flies. Not sure how advanced they are with the work though. I despise mozzies! I hope that I’ll one day be able to enjoy my holidays in SL without returning home itchy and irritable. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8074259.stm