Buzz off
| 22 July, 2010 | Richard P. Grant |
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If we could eliminate mosquitoes, those suckers that give you the itchy bites, and carry malaria (which kills just shy of a million people every year), should we?
An article in today’s Nature considers the possibility of a world without mosquitoes. Tell us what you think using the poll up there on the right, and tell us why in the comments.
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Oh man, that’s a tough one. What about insectivores that feed on them?
Not to mention the manufacturers of mosquito nets.
Mosquitoes pollinate numerous plants. Do these plants have other pollinators?
The insect world is already so decimated that swallows in Canada are starving to death. No, we should not destroy mosquitos. We should concentrate on prevention and treatment.
I am not so cynical as to think only net manufacturers would care.
Of course not. Despite their annoying qualities they are an integral part of the overall ecosystem. Their eradication would undoubtedly lead to many unintended consequences. Suppressing populations of specific disease vector species, such as Anopheles, would be a better compromise.
If eradicating of mosquitoes is going to effect the ecosystem so much don’t you think our ecosystem should have already shut down. this is because we humans have contributed in a big way to the extinction of many species and are continuing to do so.Well eradication of mosquito is also one way of checking the disease. But I must say we need to find a genetic mode to dis function the enzyme that digests hemoglobin.
Wouldn’t eradication of mosquitos also lead to extinction of many species of bats? Capital punishment for an entire phylogenetic family seems to be the height of hubris. Still, with malaria and yellow fever and all the other myriad diseases for which mosquitos are vectors are considered, the human toll is astronomical.
Don’t eradicate them – seek other ways to deal with mosquito-bourne diseases.
Eradicating smallpox probably won’t have untoward consequences, but let’s not get carried away. We, as scientists who inform and advise the non-scientific citizenry, should not be advocating the purposeful elimination of any species, even ones that make us miserable. When did we become arrogant enough to we believe our understanding of micro/macro ecosystems is so full and complete we can predict the outcome of eliminating mosquitoes?
The end quote from the article is particularly enlightenting: “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.” Exactly. We have no idea idea what the consequence would be. Better? Or worse?
Our knowledge about the world around us is still expanding. How smart is it to purposefully eradicate anything when we are not aware of the consequences? Did we not learn enough from history?
Only in my back yard.
Actually, not even then. Intentional extinction of a species would be an abomination.
We have made poiio and smallpox viruses essentially extinct, and clearly would benefit in extincting Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mosquitoes have no obvious role in the web of life. Birds, bats and fish that feed on mosquitoes would probably find other food sources. In addition to mosquito borne human diseases, consider their nuisance effect on humans and other animals and birds, ie herds of elk running in Alaska to escape the varmints. Eradicate them.
“Mosquitoes have no obvious role in the web of life” How on earth do you know that?
I do agree with you. Species those feed exclusively on mosquitoes are not known. Since life on earth has not been the result of an intelligent design it is not wise to think that each and every organism is inevitable for the survival of ecosystem.
I strongly disagree. Intelligent design has nothing to do with the question. Whether you believe in God or not, it is not wise to act without knowledge. Exactly what parameters are essential for the survival of the ecosystem? Is anyone ready to risk the ecosystem for all of us with this gamble?
The only species that is over-abundant is the human species. It’s damage is greater than that of mosquito’s. So, let’s first deal with the larger problem…. and may be mosquito’s have a role in that game.
Bravo and seconded!
Being one of those people that mosquitoes love to pick on, I really want to say yes, but, I also know that many many fish and other creatures rely on insect larvae for their existence (especially right after birth). So, while I would love to never itch again, I know that wiping them out would most likely wipe out or disrupt an unknown number of species. The laws of ecological balance be a harsh mistress…arrrgg.
I feel your pain, Nomel.
No. Republicans maybe but…..
What plant is pollinated by the mosquito?
They are only good as food for fish and praying mantisses.
I am flabbergasted that a scientist can hold such simplistic views on “fixing” a problem!
I don’t really care. They don’t bite me very often, and when they do it hardly itches, so my only problem with them is the bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz-ing in my ear when I try to sleep. Not really bad enough to kill them all off, I guess. And as someone above suggested, there could be something worse in their place. Hm, maybe I’ll keep them around for a bit!
Many bats and fish some birds and dragon flies and damsel flies live on mosquitoes or their larvae and mosquitoe larvae may be cleaning our ponds as well. Eliminating is not the solution unless it is specific vectors like Anopheles or culex that are got rid of. There are likley to be better ways of stopping disease transmission soon but an extinct species is damage that we can never recover from.
People, get a grip! One half of all human deaths, ever, were due to mozzies. Need to read that again? One half of all deaths of the total ever human population. The role they play is minute by comparison to the detriment. Not just deaths, exclusive vector-based diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, Ross River and a multitude other. One tenth of one percent of pollination is related to the little buzzers and they are not exclusive pollinators. On the feeding cycle, creatures that eat mozzies eat lots of other bugs, grubs and wrigglers. Mosquitoes are not integral to the survival of any species. Sadly, we we not eradicate them, or fleas!
They have a very important role to play in nature and to kill them off, because they happen to prey on humans is absurd. And another issue is the more important one of how we plan to eliminate mosquitoes without disturbing the natural ecosystem balance. The blanket and simplistic view of eliminating all species of mosquitoes regardless is not worthy of being entertained by the scientific and academic community. In itself that is not a solution and its consequences as a result have not or cannot be quantified accurately. Then, there is the thing of what will be used to eliminate the tiny bad guys if it comes to that? The chemicals that are currently in use have shown to be more environmental destructive indiscriminately, and at the same time ineffective in even reducing the problem. So where to from here?
It is so very important to remember that mosquitos are food for other animals and they would disappear as well. Better to erect a martin house. They will eat enough of them to keep the area near the house quite livable for people, even in such places as Minnesota, where they are considered to be runner-up for the place of state bird.
Also, someone who keeps fresh water fish, can scoop the larvae from any unintended pool of water to feed them. They seem to really appreciate them. In short, mosquitos are a major food source for many animals we enjoy/need.
As you may recall, the building of the Panama Canal was tried many times, but could only be finished after the mosquitos were controlled, as they carried Yellow fever pathogens there. So controlling them seems to be a better goal.
I voted Hell Yes! With the full knowledge that we most likely will never be able to eradicate them altogether even if we made concerted efforts to do so. And as far as other ecosystem casualties and impacts, well, I think the pests are highly overrated,… so bring it on!