4 ms·

We’ve been committing mass murder of mosquitos for decades and, as far as I know, nobody has ever found evidence that it’s problematic. Mosquitos seem to be one

We’ve been committing mass murder of mosquitos for decades and, as far as I know, nobody has ever found evidence that it’s problematic. Mosquitos seem to be one of the few truly unnecessary (and universally unwanted) bits of the natural order.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 6y ago
I've read that some bird populations might suffer, but even ecologists will admit that mosquitos aren't particularly vital to any one species, and the elimination of mosquitos as a primary disease vector may even be a net-positive for the animal world.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- KMag 6y ago
  On top of that, only a small number of mosquito species carry malaria or dengue. Granted, I'm not sure how well we've studied cross-species fertility in mosquitoes (and thus risk of genetic solutions jumping the species barrier), but if we're able to very selectively exterminate this small number of species, my understanding is that the remaining mosquito species would expand to fill any ecological gaps.
zucked 6y ago
I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but are they not a significant source of food for any predator such that their elimination wouldn't be noticed? I'm reluctant to be playing god on this front, especially in light of the fact that it seems like the insect population is not doing well, globally, and forms the base for a complex food chain.
- modmans2nd 6y ago
  Bat eat mosquitoes
  - pzone 6y ago
    That’s more something bat enthusiasts say to get people to like the critters. In reality insectivorous bats primarily eat larger, easier to catch prey like moths.
  - em3rgent0rdr 6y ago
    Given the small size of mosquitoes, restrictions imposed on prey detectability by low frequency echolocation, and variable field metabolic rates, mosquitoes may not be available to or profitable for all bats. [1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/
  - Broken_Hippo 6y ago
    Sure, some do. But I don't think any bats eat only mosquitoes. As long as there are enough insects to eat, I think they'll be fine.
- tombert 6y ago
  Did you not read the parent comment that you're? For decades we have been performing a semi-eradication effort for mosquitoes for decades, and we have not noticed a substantial change that can be considered a result of that. I understand hesitation to muck with nature, but I think it's sort of a privileged position to have when you live in an area where malaria and West Nile are not a serious risk. Malaria kills a lot of Africans every year (400,000+ [0]), and I'm not sure how much hesitation I'd have towards eradication if anyone in my family died from it. [0] https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/ https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/
- maxerickson 6y ago
  The majority of mosquitoes don't seek out the humans. We attack the mosquitoes that seek out the humans.
tylerhou 6y ago
Allegedly, there are only a few strains of mosquitos that bite humans/mammals. So if we remove those strains, the other ones will take their place.

rrrrrrrrrrrryan 6y ago

I've read that some bird populations might suffer, but even ecologists will admit that mosquitos aren't particularly vital to any one species, and the elimination of mosquitos as a primary disease vector may even be a net-positive for the animal world.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
KMag 6y ago
On top of that, only a small number of mosquito species carry malaria or dengue. Granted, I'm not sure how well we've studied cross-species fertility in mosquitoes (and thus risk of genetic solutions jumping the species barrier), but if we're able to very selectively exterminate this small number of species, my understanding is that the remaining mosquito species would expand to fill any ecological gaps.

zucked 6y ago

I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but are they not a significant source of food for any predator such that their elimination wouldn't be noticed? I'm reluctant to be playing god on this front, especially in light of the fact that it seems like the insect population is not doing well, globally, and forms the base for a complex food chain.

modmans2nd 6y ago
Bat eat mosquitoes
- pzone 6y ago
  That’s more something bat enthusiasts say to get people to like the critters. In reality insectivorous bats primarily eat larger, easier to catch prey like moths.
- em3rgent0rdr 6y ago
  Given the small size of mosquitoes, restrictions imposed on prey detectability by low frequency echolocation, and variable field metabolic rates, mosquitoes may not be available to or profitable for all bats. [1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/
- Broken_Hippo 6y ago
  Sure, some do. But I don't think any bats eat only mosquitoes. As long as there are enough insects to eat, I think they'll be fine.
tombert 6y ago
Did you not read the parent comment that you're? For decades we have been performing a semi-eradication effort for mosquitoes for decades, and we have not noticed a substantial change that can be considered a result of that. I understand hesitation to muck with nature, but I think it's sort of a privileged position to have when you live in an area where malaria and West Nile are not a serious risk. Malaria kills a lot of Africans every year (400,000+ [0]), and I'm not sure how much hesitation I'd have towards eradication if anyone in my family died from it. [0] https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/ https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/
maxerickson 6y ago
The majority of mosquitoes don't seek out the humans. We attack the mosquitoes that seek out the humans.

tylerhou 6y ago

Allegedly, there are only a few strains of mosquitos that bite humans/mammals. So if we remove those strains, the other ones will take their place.