Should we eradicate Mosquitos?

[FL630]

Half of me says, yes, kill them all (with fire!). I fell asleep with some under my sheets a while back in New York, had to endure an 8 hour flight back the next day with 30+ bites all over me. It was hell enough to kill anything that flies!

But as above, ruining the food chain and the natural balance will only go to screw stuff up.

 

[NexusK]

Kill them, kill them all.

 

[bitslice]

If Scotland could eradicate the midges then they might get a few more tourists.

 

[Amp34]

Can't back up what you write but you appear to be the expert so tell us?

Bats, birds, amphibians, other insects, fish... To name a few.

 

[Roar87]

Is it too late to use the take off and nuke them from orbit line?

 

[413x]

In the counties where these are.. I wonder what people would die of without them?
Would there be enough food to go around in some. Of the counties?

Do we have the right? I think that's the wrong question

It's more.. Is it a good idea? The lower the animal in the food chain.. Often the more severe it's impact!

 

[Richdog]

If Scotland could eradicate the midges then they might get a few more tourists.

Gadzooks man, if they take the midgets out if Scotland there'll be no one left!

 

[Tefal]

Oh come on. Two completely different things.

I didnt however say we shouldnt fight diseases at all only that they are here for a reason and when we beat one a new stronger one will surface.

Thats not how nature works.

There is no reason thigs exist because they can exist.


We wiped out small pox what "stronger" version poped up to replace that?

 

[Tefal]

No from me. I'm not sure what the impact will be on the ecosystem and I don't want to find out. Furthermore, if we do wipe them out what is to say that another species which is more virulent and dangerous may come about? We can't be sure of that at all.

Eradication of a species is not our right. Just because we happen to be the most evolved creatures (though that can be argued!) on this planet, it actually means we have a responsibility to protect rather than destroy.

Is there a more virulent and dangerous blood sucking insect about thats numbers are being supressed by the existance of mosquitoes compeating for some resource?

Cause if not you can be sure.

 

[Freefaller]

Well no I can't as something else may evolve or take over those reigns.

 

[Orionaut]

We do not need to wipe out mosquitoes, we just need to kill enough of them to break the malarial cycle. Mosquito populations bounce back quickly There are plenty of Mossies in the USA today despite the country being blanketed in DDT during the late 40's, they just do not carry malaria any more.

 

[Scrutinize]

Something always finds a way to present itself as population control in all species including humans. Whether that is availability of food/water sources, life cycles and breeding cycles, viruses, diseases, bacteria or predators. Then on top of that you have natural earth conditions such as volcanic and earthquake activity along with extreme weather events.

Some places really aren't ideally suited to habitation by non animal species which are often more capable of genetically mutating/evolving in short time frames to adapt or accepting of their position in the food chain.

Mosquitoes are a large food source for other species and probably act as a form of population control by being a carrier.

The typical human response of destroy what is in the way will only end badly as always.

 

[stopper]

Was there not a very successful trial where they genetically modified very sexy male mosquitos which the females wanted to mate with but when they did the offspring were all impotent?

Some thing like that, seems what ever they did has backfired though.
http://www.activistpost.com/2016/01...here-gm-mosquitoes-were-released-in-2015.html

 

[gothic_hobbit]

The UK used to have malaria.

If we stand back and do nothing, it could come back one day.

 

[glenimp617]

yep, wipe them out. While were at it, wipe out wasps too. In fact, also get rid of those tiny flies that like to crawl into your expensive monitor and die

and spiders and flies, don't like those either

pigeons
rats
snakes
moths

I'm tempted to say kill everything apart from things which taste nice, or cute and cuddly

I'm 50/50 on cats to be honest. Pros = funny youtube videos, Cons = Poo in my garden!

 

[eatcustard]

No

Humans must be eradicated 1st, then cats

 

[Blackjack Davy]

The UK used to have malaria.

If we stand back and do nothing, it could come back one day.

And why was it eradicated? it wasn't because of anti malarial drugs.

Mosquitos thrive in swampy badly drained fresh water when ancient Rome drained its malaria infested marshes it stopped there too. Until something is done to control their breeding grounds it won't go away.

 

[scorza]

So they let slip on the news this morning that there isn't actually any scientific proof that the Zika virus causes these awful birth defects. Shouldn't we have that before we start genociding an entire species? Wouldn't surprise me if the root cause turns out to be something else entirely - contaminated food/water for example.

 

[Freakbro]

So they let slip on the news this morning that there isn't actually any scientific proof that the Zika virus causes these awful birth defects. Shouldn't we have that before we start genociding an entire species? Wouldn't surprise me if the root cause turns out to be something else entirely - contaminated food/water for example.

I agree, even though they feel they have strong correllatory evidence, they just haven't had the time to do rigourous scientific testing to prove it one way or another yet

So while it's sensible to announce their theory for peoples safety it's a bit soon to be wanting to exterminate a species.

 

[Jono]

I think we should eradicate them in this country. All it'll take is one person carrying the virus to be bitten by one of ours....