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I just want to point out that I've never heard anyone call for the eradication of mosquitoes that don't spread disease in humans, a major premise of the article

I just want to point out that I've never heard anyone call for the eradication of mosquitoes that don't spread disease in humans, a major premise of the article.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
smabie 5y ago
Well then I'll be the first. Let's just kill them, they're annoying.
- dang 5y ago
  Please don't post shallow dismissals to HN. We want curious conversation here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- stitched2gethr 5y ago
  Total agreement. I love this planet but those things need to burn.
- DonHopkins 5y ago
  We just need to recruit and deploy billions of Vampire Spiders! https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/mosquito-eating-vampire-spider-could-be-recruited-for-war-on-malaria https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/m... >Mosquito-eating vampire spider could be recruited for war on malaria >Cross says that these arachnids, also known as vampire spiders, “love” feeding on human blood as it gives them an odour that renders them sexually attractive to potential mates. >But the spiders pose no danger to humans, the researchers say. Even though they like human blood, they lack specialised mouth parts to pierce people’s skin. Instead, to get the nutritious blood meal, the spiders feed on the female mosquitoes that carry blood sucked from humans. “Their compound eyes give them clear eyesight. And just like a cat, they stalk their prey and pounce on them at the right moment,” she says. The study, published in the current issue of the Journal of Arachnology, says that the spiders identify female Anopheles mosquitoes through their up-tilted abdomens — a resting posture they adopt after feeding on human blood. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/to-study-vampire-spiders-build-frankenstein-mosquitoes https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/to-study-... >To study vampire spiders, build Frankenstein mosquitoes >They confronted captive spiders with lures built from body parts of dead mosquitoes, which had been glued together in different combinations like miniature Frankenstein’s monsters. The spiders saw two lures at a time, and Nelson noted which they pounced upon. “They are easy-to-handle, patient spiders,” she says. “Being so picky, it means we can ask them questions and get answers regarding their preferences that makes it seem like they answered in English.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evarcha_culicivora https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evarcha_culicivora >Evarcha culicivora is a species of jumping spider (family Salticidae) found only around Lake Victoria in Kenya and Uganda.[1] At maturity, E. culicivora spiders have an average size of 5 mm for both males and females. The range in size for either sex is quite small, with females being only slightly larger on average (4-7 mm compared to 3-6 mm).[2] >It is commonly known as the vampire spider because it indirectly desires the blood of vertebrates. It does this by predating on blood-sucking female mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles, the mosquito responsible for transmitting malaria in the region, as well as other vector-borne diseases in humans.[1] Experimentally, these spiders are considered Anopheles specialists.[3] E. culicivora has an association with the native plants Lantana camara and Ricinus communis. They consume the nectar for food and preferentially use these plants as a location for courtship.[4]
  - corty 5y ago
    Yeah, right. Instead of just getting rid of the moskitos, let's introduce a spider that likes human blood, but is currently unable to get it directly. No chance for that one to go wrong...
gcheong 5y ago
I would admit that I didn’t really know much about the existence of mosquitoes that didn’t pose a threat to humans so I think it’s an important article as these species may not be targeted specifically but might become collateral damage if indiscriminate eradication methods are used. I guess in that sense I hope technologies like GM mosquitoes would allow us to eradicate the species that do pose a threat while protecting the ones that may be beneficial.
- acomjean 5y ago
  I’ll agree with that sentiment. But I think a lot of times at least in certain towns in Massachusetts when certain bad mosquito diseases show up (eee) they start spraying and some towns cancel outdoor activities at dusk. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_equine_encephalitis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_equine_encephalitis I’m not sure how many non biting mosquitos species are here though but I suspect their control methods are pretty broad. I suspect if they weren’t biting us we wouldn’t notice them. Mosquito genetics is increasing so generic targeting seems possible. Between that and vaccines..
graderjs 5y ago
But why stop there, if it is even possible to? Hundreds or thousands of species of mosquito, can you genetically target a single one for eradication? And if successful, it's easy to imagine the nuances of different species getting lost in government policies. Compounded by the fact that, maybe aegypti and malaria mosquitos represent an equilibrium that, if disturbed by their genocide...would leave a pathogen-vector vacuum that could be filled by a formerly regressive species that could spread worse pathogens. I think we should play with treatments that affect things that have less moving parts and that we roughly know how to control (like our own bodies, roughly), rather than trying to do 'ecosystem' engineering where we have very little knowledge (or it seems critical caution, from proponents) of how it will be affected in a knock-on sense, which could be disastrous. Maybe it is a good idea but the consequences of it going wrong are disastrous. Like the Cane Toads that were introduced to Australia to wipe out an insect preying on sugar cane, that then became an endemic threat. But we're not talking about it just affecting flora and fauna, we're talking about something that could affect us. The cure might end up being worse than the disease. Apart from the equilibrium dynamics, vampiric mosquitos also play a role in horizontal gene transfer and end up actually conveying immunity to the human population for various zoonotic pathogens that would otherwise spread to us: they help our immune systems evolve, and also contribute to evolution of humans.
- bbarnett 5y ago
  Well thought out, informative. But still, Kill them all. Noseeums too. I literally cannot be outside my house 3 months of the year unless coated in deet, or head to toe netting. I mean literal clouds of them, and the noseeums in my ears, eyes, death. Death to them all. If all of humanity expires for their lack, I care not, if we take them with us. Death to them all.
  - krasi0 5y ago
    In some parts of the world, the suffering that you describe already lasts 9+ months of the year. Mosquito swarms literally eat you alive while outside.
  - _Microft 5y ago
jvanderbot 5y ago
I'd say kill them all.
- sidpatil 5y ago
  Are you from Buenos Aires?
  - is_true 5y ago
    I think he is talking about pokemon. BA doesn't have that many mosquitoes, but had many cases of dengue the last few years.
  - zionic 5y ago
    I’m doing my part!
dmix 5y ago
We can’t talk about nature without riddling people with guilt (see: every nature documentary ever).

I just want to point out that I've never heard anyone call for the eradication of mosquitoes that don't spread disease in humans, a major premise of the article.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

smabie 5y ago

Well then I'll be the first. Let's just kill them, they're annoying.

dang 5y ago
Please don't post shallow dismissals to HN. We want curious conversation here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
stitched2gethr 5y ago
Total agreement. I love this planet but those things need to burn.
DonHopkins 5y ago
We just need to recruit and deploy billions of Vampire Spiders! https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/mosquito-eating-vampire-spider-could-be-recruited-for-war-on-malaria https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/aug/05/m... >Mosquito-eating vampire spider could be recruited for war on malaria >Cross says that these arachnids, also known as vampire spiders, “love” feeding on human blood as it gives them an odour that renders them sexually attractive to potential mates. >But the spiders pose no danger to humans, the researchers say. Even though they like human blood, they lack specialised mouth parts to pierce people’s skin. Instead, to get the nutritious blood meal, the spiders feed on the female mosquitoes that carry blood sucked from humans. “Their compound eyes give them clear eyesight. And just like a cat, they stalk their prey and pounce on them at the right moment,” she says. The study, published in the current issue of the Journal of Arachnology, says that the spiders identify female Anopheles mosquitoes through their up-tilted abdomens — a resting posture they adopt after feeding on human blood. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/to-study-vampire-spiders-build-frankenstein-mosquitoes https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/to-study-... >To study vampire spiders, build Frankenstein mosquitoes >They confronted captive spiders with lures built from body parts of dead mosquitoes, which had been glued together in different combinations like miniature Frankenstein’s monsters. The spiders saw two lures at a time, and Nelson noted which they pounced upon. “They are easy-to-handle, patient spiders,” she says. “Being so picky, it means we can ask them questions and get answers regarding their preferences that makes it seem like they answered in English.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evarcha_culicivora https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evarcha_culicivora >Evarcha culicivora is a species of jumping spider (family Salticidae) found only around Lake Victoria in Kenya and Uganda.[1] At maturity, E. culicivora spiders have an average size of 5 mm for both males and females. The range in size for either sex is quite small, with females being only slightly larger on average (4-7 mm compared to 3-6 mm).[2] >It is commonly known as the vampire spider because it indirectly desires the blood of vertebrates. It does this by predating on blood-sucking female mosquitoes in the genus Anopheles, the mosquito responsible for transmitting malaria in the region, as well as other vector-borne diseases in humans.[1] Experimentally, these spiders are considered Anopheles specialists.[3] E. culicivora has an association with the native plants Lantana camara and Ricinus communis. They consume the nectar for food and preferentially use these plants as a location for courtship.[4]
- corty 5y ago
  Yeah, right. Instead of just getting rid of the moskitos, let's introduce a spider that likes human blood, but is currently unable to get it directly. No chance for that one to go wrong...

gcheong 5y ago

I would admit that I didn’t really know much about the existence of mosquitoes that didn’t pose a threat to humans so I think it’s an important article as these species may not be targeted specifically but might become collateral damage if indiscriminate eradication methods are used. I guess in that sense I hope technologies like GM mosquitoes would allow us to eradicate the species that do pose a threat while protecting the ones that may be beneficial.

acomjean 5y ago
I’ll agree with that sentiment. But I think a lot of times at least in certain towns in Massachusetts when certain bad mosquito diseases show up (eee) they start spraying and some towns cancel outdoor activities at dusk. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_equine_encephalitis https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_equine_encephalitis I’m not sure how many non biting mosquitos species are here though but I suspect their control methods are pretty broad. I suspect if they weren’t biting us we wouldn’t notice them. Mosquito genetics is increasing so generic targeting seems possible. Between that and vaccines..

graderjs 5y ago

But why stop there, if it is even possible to? Hundreds or thousands of species of mosquito, can you genetically target a single one for eradication? And if successful, it's easy to imagine the nuances of different species getting lost in government policies. Compounded by the fact that, maybe aegypti and malaria mosquitos represent an equilibrium that, if disturbed by their genocide...would leave a pathogen-vector vacuum that could be filled by a formerly regressive species that could spread worse pathogens. I think we should play with treatments that affect things that have less moving parts and that we roughly know how to control (like our own bodies, roughly), rather than trying to do 'ecosystem' engineering where we have very little knowledge (or it seems critical caution, from proponents) of how it will be affected in a knock-on sense, which could be disastrous. Maybe it is a good idea but the consequences of it going wrong are disastrous. Like the Cane Toads that were introduced to Australia to wipe out an insect preying on sugar cane, that then became an endemic threat. But we're not talking about it just affecting flora and fauna, we're talking about something that could affect us. The cure might end up being worse than the disease. Apart from the equilibrium dynamics, vampiric mosquitos also play a role in horizontal gene transfer and end up actually conveying immunity to the human population for various zoonotic pathogens that would otherwise spread to us: they help our immune systems evolve, and also contribute to evolution of humans.

bbarnett 5y ago
Well thought out, informative. But still, Kill them all. Noseeums too. I literally cannot be outside my house 3 months of the year unless coated in deet, or head to toe netting. I mean literal clouds of them, and the noseeums in my ears, eyes, death. Death to them all. If all of humanity expires for their lack, I care not, if we take them with us. Death to them all.
- krasi0 5y ago
  In some parts of the world, the suffering that you describe already lasts 9+ months of the year. Mosquito swarms literally eat you alive while outside.
- _Microft 5y ago

jvanderbot 5y ago

I'd say kill them all.

sidpatil 5y ago
Are you from Buenos Aires?
- is_true 5y ago
  I think he is talking about pokemon. BA doesn't have that many mosquitoes, but had many cases of dengue the last few years.
- zionic 5y ago
  I’m doing my part!

dmix 5y ago

We can’t talk about nature without riddling people with guilt (see: every nature documentary ever).