Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mongrel · 03-20-2003, 10:29 PM

I just saw a news story which states scientists may be able to wipe out the mosquito within a year. Call me a fence-sitter, but I'm in two minds about this. On one hand, it could damage the food chain even further, and sets a very dangerous precedent(what next?), but on the other hand, I hate mosquitos with a vengeance. Despise the bastards. Worthless little parasytical bloody(bad pun) things.

What do you think?

Chicken Girl · 03-20-2003, 11:07 PM

yes. Kill the bastards.

PLEASE.

FoE · 03-20-2003, 11:17 PM

However, ecologists warn that wiping out a species could have unforeseen consequences.
That's an understatement if i've ever heard one! Ecological and disease concerns aside i say leave them. It's a nice way to "tell the men from the boys" as they say. When you're out camping you can always tell who's gonna be trouble by who whines about the bugs first.

Born Free · 03-21-2003, 12:45 AM

YES kill the little bastards, while they're at it can they find something to kill the midge???

I hate those things more.

Abacus · 03-21-2003, 05:15 AM

What about birds that depend on mosquitoes for food?

beth · 03-21-2003, 05:32 AM

Here in the swamp lands in Florida the mosquitos are horrible and pose a risk of spreading disease. I would not want the entire population to be destroyed, just reduced.

kwigibo · 03-21-2003, 05:45 AM

does this mean there is only one species of mosquito?

BrotherMan · 03-21-2003, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kwigibo
does this mean there is only one species of mosquito?

No, silly. Everyone knows there's just one kind of mosquito.

simian · 03-21-2003, 06:06 AM

Off the top of my head, the other animals this would impact:

Dragonflies (both larval and adult forms)
Bats
Birds
Fish (eat larval insects)

The fish thing could go down a long ways: the fish that feed on larval mosquitos are food for larger fish. If the mosquitos dissappear, will there be anything to replace it, or will the animals that rely on it die?

What about plants? I know the males feed on fruit juices, but the mosquitos are out well before fruits - do they also do some pollenation?

My opinion: yes the mosquitoes are annoying, but it is the diseases they may carry that we should be working on, not the mosquitoes themselves.

Simian

MJones · 03-21-2003, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by blondegoddess
Here in the swamp lands in Florida the mosquitos are horrible and pose a risk of spreading disease. I would not want the entire population to be destroyed, just reduced.

This is what I'm thinking. Reduce their population so the ecco system is still balanced, but reduce the chances they'll spread disease to people and pets.

Quick, Ned! Thin out their numbers!!

Dirty Dog

03-20-2003, 10:29 PM	#1
mongrel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: North of the South Pole Posts: 5,177	Wipe out mosquitos? I just saw a news story which states scientists may be able to wipe out the mosquito within a year. Call me a fence-sitter, but I'm in two minds about this. On one hand, it could damage the food chain even further, and sets a very dangerous precedent(what next?), but on the other hand, I hate mosquitos with a vengeance. Despise the bastards. Worthless little parasytical bloody(bad pun) things. What do you think?

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03-20-2003, 11:07 PM	#2
Chicken Girl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: nowhere Posts: 6,549	yes. Kill the bastards. PLEASE.

03-20-2003, 11:17 PM	#3
FoE Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,168	However, ecologists warn that wiping out a species could have unforeseen consequences. That's an understatement if i've ever heard one! Ecological and disease concerns aside i say leave them. It's a nice way to "tell the men from the boys" as they say. When you're out camping you can always tell who's gonna be trouble by who whines about the bugs first.

03-21-2003, 12:45 AM	#4
Born Free Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,177	YES kill the little bastards, while they're at it can they find something to kill the midge??? I hate those things more.

03-21-2003, 05:15 AM	#5
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	What about birds that depend on mosquitoes for food?

03-21-2003, 05:32 AM	#6
beth Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: where orange blossoms bloom... Posts: 1,802	Here in the swamp lands in Florida the mosquitos are horrible and pose a risk of spreading disease. I would not want the entire population to be destroyed, just reduced.

03-21-2003, 05:45 AM	#7
kwigibo Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia Posts: 5,814	does this mean there is only one species of mosquito?

03-21-2003, 06:06 AM	#9
simian Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 1,924	Off the top of my head, the other animals this would impact: Dragonflies (both larval and adult forms) Bats Birds Fish (eat larval insects) The fish thing could go down a long ways: the fish that feed on larval mosquitos are food for larger fish. If the mosquitos dissappear, will there be anything to replace it, or will the animals that rely on it die? What about plants? I know the males feed on fruit juices, but the mosquitos are out well before fruits - do they also do some pollenation? My opinion: yes the mosquitoes are annoying, but it is the diseases they may carry that we should be working on, not the mosquitoes themselves. Simian

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