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The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#21

Post by graderjs »

betwixthewires wrote: post #6

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.

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.

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#22

Post by b112 »

graderjs wrote: post #21
betwixthewires wrote: post #6

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.

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 v…

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.

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#24

Post by _Microft »

b112 wrote: post #22
graderjs wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 v…

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.

Then, maybe, you are living in a place where nobody should have lived in the first place. Population in areas that are not really suited for us is a more widespread problem than we like to admit.

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#26

Post by graderjs »

b112 wrote: post #22
graderjs wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 v…

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.

Haha, this is quite funny. I feel you must live in Florida, but I have no idea. First time to hear about these Noseeums, how are their bites compared to mosquito?

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#28

Post by stalkingvictim »

wesleywt wrote: post #27

I seem to be the lone defender of the mosquito and tsetse fly. These insects protect animals and habitats from the most insidious creature on this planet,humans.

mosquitoes ostensibly had a funeral outside of my homeless truck today. i killed 3 infidels last night by clapping my hands when they became stuck inside the cab.

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#29

Post by tshaddox »

_Microft wrote: post #24
b112 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Then, maybe, you are living in a place where nobody should have lived in the first place. Population in areas that are not really suited for us is a more widespread problem than we like to admit.

Which are the places people “should” have lived in the first place? Presumably places where clothing and shelter weren’t necessary to survive?

Re: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes

#30

Post by dmix »

betwixthewires wrote: post #6

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.

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