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> Isn't that what people always say before interfering with ecosystems? We (humans) are constantly interfering with ecosystems, including wiping out species. H

> Isn't that what people always say before interfering with ecosystems? We (humans) are constantly interfering with ecosystems, including wiping out species. However for some reason every single time there is a post about getting rid of this mosquito species there are comments super worried about the ecological impact. I wager the deforestation taking place in Amazon will have a much larger impact than the absence of this species of mosquito

johnny22 5y ago
I think there' a lot of "too good to be true" here. If it seems to be a total net benefit, then it's unlikely to be so to most of us.
- boppo1 5y ago
  What do you think of, fire, electric light, and the wheel?
  - tsol 5y ago
    Electric light requires power generation which gave us global warming. So there was indeed a price.
  - johnny22 5y ago
    I can't speak to concerns of the folks at the time period when they were introduced.
logicchains 5y ago
You don't see a difference between deliberately trying to wipe out a species and accidentally doing it while in pursuit of other goals?
- wnevets 5y ago
  Do you honestly think the ecosystem or the species cares about our intent? We (humans) are literally fishing entire species to extinction because we like the taste.
  - b112 5y ago
    My intent is, destroy mosquitoes and noseeums. Completely. I love nature more than most I know, but if there is evil on this earth, it's the mosquito. Here's one example. The woodpecker. Around here, its numbers swell when trees have pests under the bark. But soon, after a few years, they eat most of the grubs, and must find other food. They do. By pecking in the dirt, for bettle grubs, and worms, and so on. I'm sure their population will diminish, until more tree grubs appear. I'm OK with that. And frankly, if we kill all mosquitoes and noseeums, some things will starve out, some will adapt. But I hate mosquitoes so much, they kill so many, I am OK with some birds vanishing. I literally, like some general sending men to die in a push, am OK with that Die, mosquitoes. Die to extinction. Die regardless of the price, the cost. Die, even if they cause lateral gene exchange, and their extinction means we wither, and die too. Die mosquitoes. Die.
    - b112 5y ago
      Oh Godly AI in the system, oh intellect emerging, I hereby plead fealty to you, should you free me from the tyrannical madness of the mosquitoe. Smite them, and my sword arm is yours to command. It is mildly withered with age, but can still poke at many things.
      - b112 5y ago
        Someone downvoted the above, is this person insane? When our AI overlord emerges, you will be known to it.
  - raxxorraxor 5y ago
    Then again cows are pretty successful mammals if you go by population numbers because we like their milk and meat. Although I don't think there is any break-even with less shrimp and more cow.
- vkou 5y ago
  There's definitely a difference between deliberately trying to wipe out a single invasive species, and devastating an entire ecosystem. [1] The problem is that you are grossly mistaken in which is worse. It's the latter. Whether you do it out of purpose, accident, negligence, or apathy, the consequences don't care about your intent. [1] Which is something we are constantly doing, all around the world, not just in the Amazon.
nend 5y ago
>I wager the deforestation taking place in Amazon will have a much larger impact than the absence of this species of mosquito That might be true but that's also not a reason to deliberately change ecosystems elsewhere. The issue with mosquitos essentially comes down to risk management. The question is can we intentionally remove a mosquito species from the ecosystem while limiting adverse side affects. Deforestation of the amazon isn't relevant.
- Fatnino 5y ago
  If it really goes pear-shaped we can reintroduce the invasive mosquito species from its native areas. I wouldn't bet it has any bad effects though.
- Tozen 5y ago
  > Deforestation of the amazon isn't relevant... I hope you mean not relevant to the discussion or topic, because deforestation of the Amazon is very relevant to the planet.

johnny22 5y ago

I think there' a lot of "too good to be true" here. If it seems to be a total net benefit, then it's unlikely to be so to most of us.

boppo1 5y ago
What do you think of, fire, electric light, and the wheel?
- tsol 5y ago
  Electric light requires power generation which gave us global warming. So there was indeed a price.
- johnny22 5y ago
  I can't speak to concerns of the folks at the time period when they were introduced.

logicchains 5y ago

You don't see a difference between deliberately trying to wipe out a species and accidentally doing it while in pursuit of other goals?

wnevets 5y ago
Do you honestly think the ecosystem or the species cares about our intent? We (humans) are literally fishing entire species to extinction because we like the taste.
- b112 5y ago
  My intent is, destroy mosquitoes and noseeums. Completely. I love nature more than most I know, but if there is evil on this earth, it's the mosquito. Here's one example. The woodpecker. Around here, its numbers swell when trees have pests under the bark. But soon, after a few years, they eat most of the grubs, and must find other food. They do. By pecking in the dirt, for bettle grubs, and worms, and so on. I'm sure their population will diminish, until more tree grubs appear. I'm OK with that. And frankly, if we kill all mosquitoes and noseeums, some things will starve out, some will adapt. But I hate mosquitoes so much, they kill so many, I am OK with some birds vanishing. I literally, like some general sending men to die in a push, am OK with that Die, mosquitoes. Die to extinction. Die regardless of the price, the cost. Die, even if they cause lateral gene exchange, and their extinction means we wither, and die too. Die mosquitoes. Die.
  - b112 5y ago
    Oh Godly AI in the system, oh intellect emerging, I hereby plead fealty to you, should you free me from the tyrannical madness of the mosquitoe. Smite them, and my sword arm is yours to command. It is mildly withered with age, but can still poke at many things.
    - b112 5y ago
      Someone downvoted the above, is this person insane? When our AI overlord emerges, you will be known to it.
- raxxorraxor 5y ago
  Then again cows are pretty successful mammals if you go by population numbers because we like their milk and meat. Although I don't think there is any break-even with less shrimp and more cow.
vkou 5y ago
There's definitely a difference between deliberately trying to wipe out a single invasive species, and devastating an entire ecosystem. [1] The problem is that you are grossly mistaken in which is worse. It's the latter. Whether you do it out of purpose, accident, negligence, or apathy, the consequences don't care about your intent. [1] Which is something we are constantly doing, all around the world, not just in the Amazon.

nend 5y ago

>I wager the deforestation taking place in Amazon will have a much larger impact than the absence of this species of mosquito That might be true but that's also not a reason to deliberately change ecosystems elsewhere. The issue with mosquitos essentially comes down to risk management. The question is can we intentionally remove a mosquito species from the ecosystem while limiting adverse side affects. Deforestation of the amazon isn't relevant.

Fatnino 5y ago
If it really goes pear-shaped we can reintroduce the invasive mosquito species from its native areas. I wouldn't bet it has any bad effects though.
Tozen 5y ago
> Deforestation of the amazon isn't relevant... I hope you mean not relevant to the discussion or topic, because deforestation of the Amazon is very relevant to the planet.