Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
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Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#2Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#3Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
The article says boric acid (used for cockroach as well as ant control) is relatively safe for humans, cheap, effective, and “it kills in so many ways that there’s never been resistance to it."
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#4Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
They used different toxins in different tests, a modern bacterial toxin targeting mosquitos, and then simply boric acid, about which they say: … and it kills in so many ways that there’s never been resistance to it. Some authorities think there never will be.
Maybe it will select for mosquitos that will avoid the fake nectar, but that can be rotated and the mosquitos need to feed on nectar.
They inadvertently tested the boric acid on the local human population when they used fermented juice in the bait pitchers. It proved largely harmless to humans who drink jugs of random, poisoned alcohol they find laying around.
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#5Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
I'm not qualified to judge whether or not it's true, but if you actually read the article, they address this concern directly:
Boric acid is much less expensive than Spinosad. It is also about as harmless to humans as table salt is. It is a chief ingredient in Silly Putty. Dr. Schlein said he had heard that some Malians sampled the alcoholic bait brew, with no ill effects.
But it kills insects that eat it. It is common in cockroach control; when a thin layer is spread on floors, cockroaches take it in when they preen their feet.
“You can buy it by the truckload,” Dr. Christensen said. “And it kills in so many ways that there’s never been resistance to it. Some authorities think there never will be.”Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#6Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
The article says boric acid (used for cockroach as well as ant control) is relatively safe for humans, cheap, effective, and “it kills in so many ways that there’s never been resistance to it."
Next line "Some authorities think there never will be."
It's still possible they'll get resistant one way or another. The article claims 10% survived. This doesn't mean they're resistant to the dye/boric acid, it probably just means they never tried the bait. It's possible they'll become resistant to the bait (i.e. the bait won't attract them anymore).
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#7Perfect way to breed resistant mosquitos.
They used different toxins in different tests, a modern bacterial toxin targeting mosquitos, and then simply boric acid, about which they say: … and it kills in so many ways that there’s never been resistance to it. Some authorities think there never will be. Maybe it will select for mosquitos that will avoid the fake nectar, but that can be rotated and the mosquitos need to feed on nectar. They inadvertently tested…
That's true. I think they'll much faster start smelling and becoming repulsed by boric acid, however, than they will start avoiding fake nectar.
Which is practically the same as being resistant.
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#8This could really have a positive effect on world wide health and I applaud the Gates foundation for taking on such lofty goals.
Question though, despite absolutely loving the idea of a mosquito free world, is there a consequence to eliminating mosquitoes from the food chain?
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#9This could really have a positive effect on world wide health and I applaud the Gates foundation for taking on such lofty goals. Question though, despite absolutely loving the idea of a mosquito free world, is there a consequence to eliminating mosquitoes from the food chain?
It seems as though we expect no adverse consequences to their total elimination: http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100721/full/466432a.html
Re: Toxic Nectar Kills 90% of Mosquito Populations
#10That's pretty neat. I use boric acid for restoring rotted wood in my old 1800's house. It's been well known for a long time to stop insects.
You can actually buy rods of the stuff to insert into rotting (or in danger of rotting) wooden beams (such as a beam in the foundation of an old house that gets too wet). When the wood gets wet the beam spreads and stops any further mold rot or insects (roaches, ants) from harming it. It's amazing stuff really.
For other rotting pieces of wood you can create better mixtures with other easily available ingredients and sort of "paint" with the stuff.