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Domagoj Hackenberger

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Is the total eradication of mosquitoes a true solution?

Mosquitoes have a massive ecological role in nature. Especially as main food source for great number freshwater fish and birds.

Related Talks:
Topics: balance biology ecology mosquitoes population
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  • Domagoj Hackenberger

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    Jan 5 2013: After some research:

    I know that this method of mosquito control is very flexible and it is, theoretically, bulletproof.

    But in mine opinion there is solutions that can be more direct and yield even better results. For example use of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin in form of pellets (larvicide). The Cry toxin method is more demanding and even costs more but effect can be localized.

    However, method presented in the video is very good for mosquitoes that have strong biological relation with urban areas (eg. Culex pipiens). Because pesticides have less effect in urban area.

    For species that are not biologically related to cities (eggs are laid in swamps, ponds, lakes, wetlands eg. Aedes vexans) this method is not necessary.

    • Luke Alphey

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      Jan 5 2013: For container breeders like Aedes aegypti (the key vector of dengue) the problem with larviciding is finding the breeding sites. Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis works well, as do various chemicals - but only if you can get them into the breeding sites, which are essentially any small water-filled container - bucket, blocked rainwater gutter, used tyres, etc. There are so many of these in any urban environment that it is near-impossible in practice to find and treat enough of them. A key feature of engineered sterile males is that they will actively seek out the wild females over a significant area and thereby solve this searh problem. I agree that the situation will vary from species to species; for some mosquitoes breeding in larger bodies of water such as Aedes taeniorhynchus use of larvicides seems more effective.

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