Ethical dilemma: Should we get rid of mosquitoes? - Talya Hackett

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[@cliffordsy4249]

Coffee balls

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

We are already killing off far more important and special animals and destroying our world the only good thing they do is keep down certain pests like in the undeveloped countries!

[@maribelmenese4845]

Why do humans love to play gods.

[@stevejohnson2053]

​@@maribelmenese4845bcuz mosquitoes can't

[@EmmanuelOnwukwe]

​@@maribelmenese4845self defense is not playing god

[@kesler4982]

I live in a tropical state, and mosquitoes are a big problem. you can have hundreds of them in your house at night, and hear a constant loud buzzing everywhere. I ask myself, there is no consequence bad enough to eradicating them other than possibly having more mosquitoes.

[@atlas956]

i think so too. it would affect only a couple of species, but eliminate several of the diseases with the highest body count in our modern world. genetically sterilising these species would probably also be a better option than hoping that medication becomes widely available and affordable. especially since mosquito population will probably keep increasing and even spreading to colder areas due to climate change.

[@kesler4982]

@@atlas956 ​ Don't need to tell me twice. I caught some of their diseases before, and now I attract them like crazy. I actually have to stay fully covered at home and sleep under a mosquito net, it's terrible.

[@wouldyoureturntomonke2452]

mosquitos is our natural enemies, they need to be burned 🔥

[@kesler4982]

@@TheBosama Believe me, I don't stay here because I love the place too much lol

[@WasThisMail]

@@atlas956 issue is it won’t just affect a few species It would have widespread ecological ramifications

Me during winter: This is indeed a complicated problem. We should consider all options carefully. Me during summer: KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!

[@somehistorynerd]

Depends, at least for me, I want to become the Terminator for these damned things

[@derpgamer743]

Damn even got a heart

[@ambatuBUHSURK]

bro i live in semi rural india, my answer is always yes lmao

[@spaghettiwipeawayfaced5963]

Yooo nice pfp!

[@Skye-fu7ys]

tbh at this point I don't give a fu3k but just wanted these things gone forever

[@quintus920]

These don't seem like ethical problems as much as rhey are merely strategic evaluations. The video does not question whether the end goal should be pursued, but rather discusses the merits of a particular technique in achieving that goal as well as the risks involved.

[@meelz812]

I kind of felt this way too, but ultimately I liked how the video started from some proposed implementations in exploring the question in the title. The method by which mosquitoes are eliminated has a lot of impact on the answer to the question, since different methods might have different efficacies and side effects. Some amount of explanation of the methods has to be done so that more people can understand the content better.

[@pierreaura7705]

Your're right !

[@chillero3heftig712]

Same, im so disappointed they neither drew a conclusion at all, nor researched the answer to whether it's problematic for the environment.

[@lukeytron]

The ethical problem is whether or not humans should engage in dna manipulation, without a full grasp of the consequences. Are we playing God?

[@MexiFryStains]

@@lukeytronthere is no god

[@santiagosenoran1217]

As a mosquito magnet during summer in Buenos Aires I can firmly say my empathy for mosquitoes is absolutely exhausted and I see it as a small sacrifice if getting rid of mosquitoes means the extinction of nine tenths of fauna on earth. In fact while writing this comment I was bitten by a mosquito

[@ciyadhingra5895]

😂😂😂

[@malikaalibdat7079]

Loooooool ikr

[@loonytoons8130]

I was bitten by one while reading this comment. And so, i concur

[@vibhusingh9152]

mosquito magnet🤣🤣

[@Taz-111]

I concur, you guys can blame me. I'm sick of these pest.

[@kaarlows]

My answer before watching: YES! My answer AFTER watching: Heck Yeah!

[@ponderyah]

Same fr

[@global_sally.2011]

Me too

[@exiled373]

kill em all

[@xofox_studio]

yepp

[@zion3335]

my answer after 3000 years ......YES!!!!

[@socialistrepublicofvietnam1500]

As somebody who has spent at least a minute in Vietnam, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WE NEED THIS my sister is a mosquito magnet and can't go outside without getting 10 bites, and my mother got malaria but thankfully survived

[@genhen]

humans would still get bit, just not by mosquitoes that carry any diseases, so being bit would only mean being itchy

[@azuremain9194]

just got the plane to Vietnam and have been bitten twice. please wear mosquito repellent when you go outside if you are a magnet like me

[@daddy6757]

@@genhen So we should not reduce the amount of time we get bites?

[@FaithG-s1f]

Just so you know, mosquitoes are attracted to body odor. Tell your sister to shower.

[@fotisxevgenis]

@@FaithG-s1f They are actually drawn by blood type or the hormones in the sweat , not body odor . I can step out of the shower and mosquitoes will still prefer to bite me and not those around me . 😡

[@BattleSKY8]

My brother died three months ago. Dengue fever. I'm still so heartbroken I cry myself to sleep on random nights. I miss him.

[@thijsvandervoort8261]

I'm sorry for your loss, in due time the good memories will outshine the feelings of loss and sorrow. Stay strong and talk lots with your loved ones.

[@BattleSKY8]

@@thijsvandervoort8261 Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot.

[@yajuvendrasinghrajpurohit7888]

Things will get better eventually .

[@BattleSKY8]

@@yajuvendrasinghrajpurohit7888 yes, but it's hard to hold hope sometimes.

[@xcal99999]

Sorry to hear that but try to stay strong. Time heals the wounds. The scar may remain forever but the pain will decrease with passing time. And your brother will be sad to see you cry so keep his good memories close and try to live the life to the fullest combining his and yours

[@Fallen7Pie]

It's not much of a dilemma anymore. The damage we do trying to control mosquitos every year is insane, removing them from the food chain would be relatively harmless. Every study I've seen on this in the past 10 years has come to that same conclusion

[@jamesconnolly5164]

If we kill them with gene drive we won't need to damage anything with pesticides.

[@lillysmith4040]

Every human made disaster started with us thinking that "there's no harm"

[@seb0rn739]

It still is very much a dilemma! Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@Anhilare]

@@seb0rn739 more disastrous than using general insecticides against them, thereby killing other insects in the process, as is common now?

[@BURGATRON]

Not harmless. The human population would grow and there are already too many of us.

[@kazi6343]

Mosquitoes cause so much suffering and death. It would be unethical to let people suffer while we have a solution.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

We do not have a solution

[@Tudvari]

Have we watched the same video?

[@robertanderson2424]

We have watched through different eyes. We may have a weapon, but the solution is not present until all the risks are accounted for. Its a good thing to see people are not taking rash decisions with the fragile equilibrium of our planet. I hope this tool becomes the solution you are hoping for, but all measures need to be taken for once, to be certain that 'good intentions' won't become 'grand disasters' for our planet.

[@micky100]

The real problem here is not whether we have a solution or not, but to which consequences this may lead to the ecosystem in the near or far future, which is the real ethical issue.

[@MJ12475]

What if the solution brings more suffering? Comments like this make me wonder if we’ve watched the same video

[@joanne3713]

I live in west Africa. To not have to fight malaria and swallow anti malaria tabs multiple times every year would be so awesome😭

[@Oogie187]

What infuriates me most about this ethical dilemma is the thought that the people most affected by mosquitoes not having the final say in the matter. Let the widows that have endured restless nights due to the hands of these vermin have a voice, not some naysayer from the northern-hemisphere preaching fairytale

[@bvegannow1936]

Put high quality mosquito traps one per acre, and dont have standing non moving water. Housing and natural habitat can also be provided for predator animals who eat mosquitoes.

[@LoneAW0]

@@Oogie187 if they want a say, they should develop the technology

[@doodoo2065]

@@LoneAW0 The tecnology will affect worldwide, so its something for the world in general to choose

[@nammi895]

Which country, do u have internet access in Africa

[@sunablast]

Can we please just do this already? Imagine how much better life would be in places like Southeast Asia and Florida

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

true. i always dream of sleeping without clothings where i don’t have to prepare for mosquito repellents before every sleep

[@seb0rn739]

Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@siddhartacrowley]

@@seb0rn739 We already killed some animal species, so why not mosquitos too? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@imadearadea3417]

Remember that Mao Tse tung once implemented a program to eradicate sparrows population because he believed that sparrows are pests that only eat crop grains. Once the sparrows were eradicated, the locusts population suddenly boomed and destroyed the harvests, contributing the cause of Chinese great famine of 1958 . Who knows how eradicating mosquitos would backfire in some way or other?

[@cher1z4rd]

@@imadearadea3417 while I understand where you're coming from, MZD's order to eradicate sparrows was an uneducated decision, it was included in the "remove four pests campaign" which mosquitoes, rats, flies are also included, but only sparrows were severely affected. Sparrows don't make ppl sick and kill ppl like mosquitoes do. And birds have been a pest since dawn of agriculture, but I doubt normal ppl would go "hmmmm, let's make a species extinct because they make our work hard but they don't actually transfer diseases" During that era, ppl were also encouraged to sell iron to the government, there are cases where ppl melted their perfectly good pot to sell and ended up less than what they've provided. The iron produce were also terrible so it's not surprising that a lot of decisions back then were not well thought of For mosquitoes tho, they caused too much harm to human's health, and they are proposing only to eradicate the species that carry diseases. I'm from Malaysia and dengue is something that we actively worry about if it's too warm and there's too much rain (all the time). My father and sister both had it before and they both ended up in hospital, thank God for them it wasn't lethal, but there are many who are not as lucky. Since they're still testing and are actively thinking about the could be consequences, it's a good sign and hope that there's a outcome that has more positives than negatives

[@qrzone8167]

Around 2-5% of people who have ever lived died to malaria. Environmental effects from eradicating mosquitos would happen but studies are pointing towards them not being catastrophic. I would say it is very much worth it

[@saumyabhardwaj1408]

I have no ethical dilemma about this: yes

[@antoniothegunexpert5955]

YES

[@mariekom81]

AGREED

[@jacobsilvis2471]

GOOD ANSWER

[@Cool-123]

Agreed!!!

[@Gelstorm2010]

I vote yes too.

[@PrinceTaRiG]

I saw my uncle developing celebral malaria.. he died a week later... if there is a way to simply end these creatures they must just do so without hesitation 😭

[@goldenhorse4823]

​@@joekrater3364 so if people hate sharks and someone says that is no excuse to commit genoice they should have been send to be bitten by sharks?

[@Super-Saiyan-Blue-Gogeta]

@@goldenhorse4823 Yes.

[@hammysan2090]

​@@goldenhorse4823comparing sharks and mosquitoes like this is not logical. Mainly because sharks are only a problem if we are the ones invading their space. In most cases sharks aren't even a threat to humans. Whoever might hate sharks doesn't have to constantly deal with the threat of a shark attack. Mosquitoes on the other hand are invasive pests. Even if you don't bother with them, they will definitely bother you. Last time I checked, sharks don't cause diseases like Malaria or Dengue.

[@snichelsticks8653]

@@goldenhorse4823 a more accurate comparison would be with termites or ants

[@J040PL7]

​@@goldenhorse4823 sharks don't actively look for humans to go and eat, maybe if you asked a seal, he'd understand your comparison 😂 Mosquitoes have no upside and are humans biggest killers, its a no brainer.

[@americandissident9062]

I live in NW Florida and my house gets apocalyptic numbers of mosquitos. Our summer months are when we have to lock ourselves in our house or rush out the door through the swarm to get to the car and leave. We don’t get to do anything outside at our house.

[@earthling_parth]

I understand the concerns on the food web, but if we can eradicate mosquitoes with only impacting 2 or 3 species, we should take that risk in my opinion but obviously experts can reach a better risk-assessed position.

[@rvat2003]

Yeah. I mean there's the "immune to the pathogens that cause the diseases" option.

[@earthling_parth]

@@rvat2003 I know but mosquitoes are just too annoying 😅

[@pisces2569]

But what if impacting those 2 or 3 species have huge consequences on the environment? Then it may not be worth the risk

[@cassius5692]

@pices is correct here. Ecosystems are systems in which almost all pieces are in some way connected. Impacting one species may at first only impact those few species that directly rely on them, but then those that rely on those few will be indirectly impacted, then any that relied on those ones will be, and so on. That can in some cases potentially continue until the existing ecosystem collapses, which is why it's crucial to asses the impact of a species before taking action that might affect it's population. It's often very hard to impact just a few species, so when there are other options (like immunity rather than elimination) those are generally the safest thing to pursue. It's also important to consider that humans, especially those in non-industrialized areas, also rely on the ecosystems they live in to at least some degree. So destabilizing them can have consequences on us as well.

[@kikilocket]

Not worth the risk. The food chain and ecosystem are actually extremely vulnerable and removing even one species could have dire consequences. It’s better to remove the disease from the mosquitos rather than the mosquitos.

[@emyvrosales]

The sterile insect technique is already being applied in the continent! In Ecuador it is for Aedes Aegypti, vector of dengue and yellow fever. Cuba, Argentina, etc are on it too since 2020.

[@ceeval21]

Dengue almost killed me for 10 days lol 105 fever in 110 degree weather . how fun was vacation for me

[@ZennExile]

bug nets and essential oil repellent work, and have always worked. There is no reason to try and modify or kill billions of organisms that are a pilar of the foodchain for THOUSANDS of other species.

[@thewingedhussar4188]

From what I heard, mosquito populations quickly bounced back after a quick population drop?

[@sieevansetiawan4792]

@@thewingedhussar4188 In Singapore, yes.

[@zion3335]

GOOD

[@anubhavpal5782]

Need to be implemented imeediately. Have had malaria loads of times in my childhood till my family moved on to a new location where the mosquitos were less but are still there till day. Unable to sleep at night sometimes due to all that buzzing going on around my ears

[@Max_m]

They wouldn’t buzz around your ears if you bought a bed net, put screens on windows etc. Eradicating a whole species for a tiny % of the population is crazy

[@gantagavin]

Ethical dilemma series is something else: a multidisciplinary, intersection, crisscross and whatnot of various subjects beautifully wrapped into a single video.

[@_.nastou._]

You perfectly described it

[@gantagavin]

@@_.nastou._ thank you!

[@dangerfly]

Does the potential consequences make this more of an ethical issue? Mouthwash and hand sanitizers kill microbes so what isn't an ethical dilemma...

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

mosquitoes ≠ ethics. just slap it on sight

[@RoyMatzem]

Theres no dilemma here. 150 different species go extinct per year, and Theres no apocalypse consequence happening. If you really want be cautious(still dont see why but ok), then target only Malaria/Dengue and let the other species fill the void. Stop having fear and Lets save people!

[@ana-zb7ix]

YES!!! Dengue is so serious. Nearly lost my mom to it and there’s no treatment. Prevention is nearly impossible because you keep your house without still water, but your neighbors don’t. You get infected anyway

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

If you live in a nation where the population can't cooperate then you don't have a government who can implement an effective strategy either anyway.

[@ana-zb7ix]

@@SevenTheMisgiven yes. It’s a very complex issue. People don’t do their part. It’s awful.

[@ldawg7117]

​@@SevenTheMisgiven so basically no Nation on Earth?

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

@@ldawg7117 Where I am from I can come up with a lot of examples. Scandinavia, Japan, Korea.

[@ana-zb7ix]

@@SevenTheMisgiven but those countries don’t have most mosquito-borne diseases, do they? Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya which is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti live only on the tropics from what I know. Unless they’ve evolved somehow to live in colder climates, which I think they will do someday and with climate change.

[@marc21256]

In places where intensive mosquito control techniques were used, we found that mosquitoes do perform pollination, but when they are gone, pollination is largely unaffected (because other insects or mechanisms fill the small gaps left). They are also replaceable in the food chain. So the ecological downside to genocide of all biting mosquitoes is zero, or close to it. The question of whether the gene drive would cross species to other mosquitoes, the mosquito genocides which have been done chemically or mechanically also found that elimination of the entire class of insect didn't have a huge impact. There are generally lots of competing organisms for the small space mosquitoes exist in, so if the entire class was gone, other species would fill in, and no long term effect would be felt. The downsides are relatively small, and it would save many lives.

[@C0coaBunny]

What about Possums? Possums get a lot of protein from mosquitos. How can we be sure other bugs would be able to meet those needs?

[@csababobalo8692]

Where you come up with his stuff? We already killed of alot of insects, wich is a hugh problem. So nice fairy tail

[@csababobalo8692]

​@@C0coaBunnybecose its pure nonsense if you ask me. Somone saying close to 0% is statisticly unaducated about statistics and just making stuff up

[@ImpairedGorilla]

@@csababobalo8692 'unaducated' the irony lol

[@johnanhmmiii]

My level of agreement with eradicating deadly mosquitoes after watching the video has gone up to 200%, thank you very much Ted-Ed 😂

[@jakelake-u1q]

yes before watching edit: after watching the answer is still yes

[@monkeybrain2976]

Yes after watching

[@DANtheMAN-_-]

The benefits will always outweigh the cost is this regard.

[@dhpz]

Yes in the middle of watching

[@doob.]

Yes since the early existence of time

[@DadsCigaretteRun]

Don’t need to hear your excuses, destroy them all

[@SmilingBakedBaguette]

Brazil is right now facing yet another crisis of diseases transmitted by Aedes Egypti. It has already become epidemic. And with the global warming and record number of floods, those mosquitoes are just thriving.

[@caocau-ez8oj]

Seriously:( every time i go to the hospital to get an IV drip for my migraines have to run tests on me to make sure i 100% DON'T have dengue fever, it's sad honestly, i can see it in their face that many kids have died in their hands due to it, cruel sadly, dengue is hard on babies and children

[@dt9327]

My only concern before and after this video is. Why haven't we done this already ?

[@jacobwhkhu]

It's because of the pathetic state of the academic world who likes to overthink and overreact. There is NO DOWNSIDES to the population collapse of all mosquitoes. It's not like there are animals in which their diet is exclusively mosquitoes

[@MetronaJ]

The answer? It's really hard to deliberately kill one specific species that is so wide spread

[@tsrmmercy836]

@@MetronaJ And it gets even harder knowing that life finds a way. One miscalculation could lead to a new generation of surviving mega bugs.

[@neutronenstern.]

It could go off in an unexpected way. Whole ecosystems could get destroyed. It might make everything worse

[@ShojimaKoji]

Its not an easy decision, once you kill a species , it will never come back.

[@ShortFuseFighting]

i hope that one day i'll be able to regale my grandchildren with tales of these "things" we used to have back in my day called "mosquitoes"....and they'll be like "mosq-WHAT?"

[@chaos.n.cosmos]

"Toes of mosqui kids" 😆

[@poro3246]

Are those little creatures that you can find in a mosque? Why are they called that?

[@amazinggrapes3045]

It'll have some unforeseen consequence that's even worse and the kids will be like "why did people do this when every time they tried something similar it ended up the same way?"

[@MapacheOculto]

Got you bad news... you'll tell them that story about many other "things" that ceased to exist. You can't even fathom how many...

[@MapacheOculto]

​@@amazinggrapes3045Nah, surely THIS time we won't make the same mistake we've made with pretty much every other invention and their consequences in the natural world. And with the on-going insect apocalypse I'd assume we would be more careful trying to erase a species. completely

[@mohamed_is_him]

My aunts husband got paralyzed by dengue fever. He is a fairly old man around 50 and my aunt said he cried every morning. Maybe this will prevent other things like this from happening again.

[@Wunderkind04]

A world without mosquitoes would be heaven on Earth, let's be real. Those summer nights without having to worry about them and constantly swatting around would be so much more relaxing. However, they are a big source of food for bats, fish, reptiles/amphibians, etc. Ideally, there would be some way to have them stop targeting humans all together rather than wiping them out, but I doubt there's any way to modify their genes properly for something that specific. As long as we could find a way to fill in the gap that comes from their loss to keep other animals fed, then I say wipe'm out, lol

[@xaayer]

Other mosquitoes would fill the niche.

[@livingwithpetsandplants9539]

So trueee

[@mystic_galaxies9832]

I do believe that experiments were done with genetically modified mosquitoes that do not feed on human blood.

[@seb0rn739]

Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@someoneelse3456]

They aren't the only source of food for these creatures. The world will move on. People are really out here believing that the world is dependent on mosquitoes when really it's the other way round.

[@burnin8able]

this video is framed around getting rid of mosquitoes as a complex ethical question, but the only concrete questions brought up are food web related questions that effectively boil down to logistical concerns. I don't really see asking questions about second and third order effects of a course of action to be ethics questions at all. the real ethical questions come after the consequences have been established and the question then becomes a comparison between action versus inaction and the consequences of both options weighed against one another.

[@TheDreamLeaf]

I thought food web related questions = potentially affecting livelihood / continued existence of animals, plants etc. As well as possibility of giving rise to other harmful species. Not just human logistical concerns?

[@burnin8able]

@@TheDreamLeaf I might have phrased it confusingly, but I don't mean human logistical concerns. I mean the "logistics" of the food web and how it operates as it stands. But my point still stands: questions of "if we do X, will Y happen?" is not an ethical question, it's trying to find out what the consequences of an action will be. the ethical questions come later, when the future consequences are known (for the most part) and the question becomes "if we do X, Y will happen. if we don't, Z will happen. should we do X?"

[@TheDreamLeaf]

@@burnin8able Ahhhh. Totally get you now, and I agree

[@greendsnow]

as if there's no other insects to feed its predators.... what a redundant argument, they're playing with our minds.

[@burnin8able]

@@greendsnow I know you don't want to hear this, but that right there is some SEVERE armchair scientist behavior. feeling out the intricacies of a decision this impactful is hugely important work. I was pointing out how we haven't gotten far enough into the research for the questions being asked to qualify as ethics questions specifically. the questions being asked are not lesser as a result, just of a different nature.

[@hewhohasnoidentity4377]

I find it...... interesting..... how a few years ago when Zika was a concern in the US there was a surge in investment and effort to find ways to eradicate mosquitos from the planet. The next spring when the risk of mosquito linked human disease in the US was back to a normal low, so did the investment in mosquito control.

[@Enkidu-4U]

This should be used on not only the deadly Mosquitoes. It should also be used on bed bugs, Ticks, and any other insect that poses a threat to humans due to their willingness to bite us and subsequently pass on deadly pathogens.

[@sachinraghavan4556]

Their bites aren't gaurunteed to be fatal.

[@ConfusionUwU]

@@sachinraghavan4556 eating expired food isn’t guaranteed to be fatal. You still shouldn’t do it.

[@SadDrifter]

well bed bugs don’t actually carry diseases for humans, kinda why people haven’t been researching a way to exterminate them properly

[@DarthAlphaTheGreat]

What’s stopping people from turning it into something worse that kills all insects indiscriminately, not intentionally even, by accident? What should be the regulation on such a technology-who should make the call when this is used or not?

[@dnull]

there are probably concerns regarding food chains for other animals

[@GuyInc0gnit0]

The animations in TED-Ed videos are always top notch, but this one especially! Simple, yet intricate and beautiful!

[@c_jo]

I’ve thought of this since I was a kid. And after 30 years of pondering and thinking hard, I say - YES!!

[@dhpz]

As someone who lives in tropical.. Y E S

[@romella_karmey]

Make them all species extinct I don’t care anymore 😩😭😭😭😭

[@BrendanWoolwine]

One thing I’ve learned is that nature will fill the gaps. It will not destroy the ecosystem. It just may fix itself in a way that isn’t beneficial or even bad for humans

[@defenderofwisdom]

The many forms make nature resilient but just because this resilience exists doesn't mean that we should get rid of the mosquitos. It's just human arrogance. Our ancestors would look back on our barbarity and weep, that we demanded what is just for humanity qua what is unjust for non-humanity. We should be guardians of all life including the mosquito. Ah! As I get older I notice how shittier and shittier scientists and the sciences get.

[@ShirokumaSama]

We extincted so many animals already (intentional or not) and I don't see the world falling apart from it, and these scientists draw the line at mosquito... Like "ayo, wiping species of mosquito out. That eff up!" LOL

[@AntiSocialismo50]

Dont care

[@astar2128]

@@ShirokumaSama I was about to make this same point

[@nedisawegoyogya]

Nature is not a conscious thing

[@Se7en1995y]

I find it ironic that humans can commit mass genocide against each other without hesitation, yet when it comes to killing hazardous flies or insects, they suddenly feel the need to think it through.

[@marvinh3357]

well, these men and women are probably a different kind of people- they‘d also not commit war crimes

[@vastoa]

its much harder to evaluate if killing a species is absolutely a good thing or if it will cause a natural disaster (look back at history for proof)

[@makmet3024]

Ehhh, There is 8 billion humans in this planet, you have to be more specific.

[@davetech1269]

That's a kind of broad generalization. Most humans are quite docile and we've grown reliant on each other to the point that violence is rather counter intuitive, generally speaking. Those who are committing the most heinous crimes are generally not healthy or happy. Violence is generally universally condemned most cases. Of course, no animal on earth perfect, including humans. Humans like anything can have conflict

[@tahini1]

what if someone makes a gene that sterilizes humans

[@rickrolling795]

With their high birthrate, I fear that mosquitoes might adopt or even develop resistance to any eradication method. Never underestimate the power of evolution.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

they still die from being slapped and electrocuted

[@hendrikheim5665]

No, unless a mutation reaccures to prevent male only offspring it wont go away. To explain why, it's how people still have fingers and how blue eyes/gingers/Albinoism etc spread and remained in the gene pool.

[@roberthorvat9347]

Unlikely

[@kizermason]

R u saying life finds away

[@Himom10]

for a second I thought u meant mosquitoes might literally start adopting children xD

[@TheDwightMamba]

I have a friend from school that encircled his property with bat-houses. Going over there in summer used to be like donating blood, but now I barely get stuck.

[@kanatahiba]

Just wanna say that something similar has been done in Indonesia. My city was included in this experiment. But it backfire unfortunately, only making more mosquitoes in results for the past year. My dad and baby brother who had never caught illness from mosquito bites got them, because there was just so much of the lethal mosquitos, and it took months for them to heal.

[@jaymwansa1280]

As someone who just recovered from malaria, I just want to know how permanent it is 😅

[@EvanBreitbeck]

I live in an area infested with Eastern equine encephalitis and when I was smaller I witnessed a horse from the nearby stable dying within days of getting bit. Unbelievably scary, especially when there is no easy way to be cured if a human is bitten

[@DaneRossenrode]

We should NOT do this until we know the consequences (to ecosystems) and can control for the issues properly. I grew up in South Africa and I know the mosquito problem is bad, but losing whole ecosystems because we impatiently release a solution is really bad and something we can't ever take back. Just look at Australia and tropical Islands to see examples of how badly it can go.

[@smitias_8474]

Shame that it wouldn't be so effective with ticks. In my region they carry a variety of life ending diseases. Makes you paranoid every time you have to check for them after visiting a forrest since they are so incredibly small. At least it easy to avoid them completely.

[@Paul-A01]

This wouldn't target every species of mosquitoes, just a particular one that spreads malaria

[@alvilla701]

Without mosquitoes, future Jurassic park won't be created

[@sirnikkel6746]

The question shouldn't be "Should we" It should be *"How can we"*

[@seb0rn739]

The question absolutely is "should we?" Ecosystems are insanely complex. Mosquitoes play very important roles both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, erasing them could have have disastrous consequences. Making mosquitoes immune to mosquito-borne diseases without affecting their populations is a far more promising approach.

[@Dialga6677]

@@seb0rn739 Yes, we should

[@cymtastique]

@@seb0rn739 Immunity does not mean they can't transmit viruses. Plus, they're already basically immune.

[@seb0rn739]

@@cymtastique They are not immune. They are themselves not affected by the viruses but that doesn't mean they are immune in an immunological sense. The viruses evade the misquitoes immune systems. When I say that we should make mosquitoes immune to these viruses, I mean that we should find a way to make their immune systems act against them.

[@ericvulgate]

This is for sure going to happen we should start planning for any consequences.

[@Zavult]

Oh I'm sure some fools will try it eventually and end up in an even worse situation. just like every other time humans have messed with nature like this.

[@PramkLuna]

Mosquitoes are pollinators, which could impact food supply

[@lonestarr1490]

@@Zavult Humans have never before messed with nature _like this._ This is a completely different level. Way more precise, way more quickly, way more deliberate, but also way more conscious than ever before. We're doing our homework this time. But that doesn't prevent the feat from being deliberate eradication.

[@chideraalexanderdex547]

@@lonestarr1490 and what if it's deliberate annihilation? As a Nigerian f em all

[@Zavult]

@@lonestarr1490 every generation since thee industrial revolution thought they were smarter then there forefathers. they thought they had done their homework too and could manipulate nature with out consequence. we all know where that line of thinking has gotten us! The fact that they are even considering it is proof they are infected with the same inherited idiocy!

[@paramotorportal]

It's not a dilemma for viruses and illness-causing microorganisms, why should mosquitoes be spared?

[@Pro-kesh]

This "dilemma" has been going on for years. I have no faith that we will ever do this

[@pl__]

People are already doing that for years though

[@seb0rn739]

I hope not.

[@42billybob]

The most important thing is that we're having conversations about who should be having conversations about it.

[@Kaiyats]

You should learn CRISPER gene editing and do it yourself, there’s no laws on it.

[@TheZonecaptain]

look at singapore, we have this and it’s mosquito free in the city area

[@jfhucka1]

We can at least remove them from areas where they are invasive like Hawaii. Also I don’t think that there is a huge risk of accidentally wiping them out if done carefully since they have short lifespans, quick reproductive cycles and don’t typically travel large distances

[@zion3335]

They are invasive all over the world ...except some parts of africa wwhere they spread globally

[@jfhucka1]

If that is true and they aren’t naturally apart of that ecosystem I really don’t feel bad about exterminating them.

[@zion3335]

@@jfhucka1 only 7-8 species bite humans out of 1000's , all of those 7-8 mosquito species are invasive species, thir removal will benefit native mosquito species

[@zion3335]

@@jfhucka1 yes all 7-8 disease vector mosquitoes are all invasive species, all over the world. Most spread from few regions in africa throughout the world. Infact they outcompete native mosquitoes and thrive only in areas of human habitation...there are approx 2500 species and only 7-8 of them are invasive species and human disease vectors

[@ryntintynvin]

As much as I hate mosquitoes, history has shown us that every time we mess with something like this to “fix” something, we tend to make it worse. In the USA we intentionally introduced starlings, Himalayan blackberries, and kudzu, and now there’s nothing we can do to stop them.

[@lanierosenberg]

Big difference between introduction and eradication. So, you don't care about the children dying from malaria and Dengue, so long as you have a nice lawn. Good to know.

[@Technoguy3]

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but actually yes.

[@toxicdermyillunary4103]

I like how mosquitoes are so badly having barely any benefit scientists are still trying to find one before making them extinct

[@KurtBorong]

I had to deal with the pain for years on my right ear when a mosquito went inside. So unforgivable.

[@hardikkumar7490]

0:20 that animation was trippy

[@Addersea]

How are so many people misunderstanding?! One of the risks of getting rid of these mosquitos is that the food web is impacted. So, for example: Mosquitos that can transmit Malaria die. Less food for their predators. Those predators die. Other things those predators eat increase. Things like OTHER types of mosquitos that have an 8x more painful bite, or botflies which lay eggs in your skin. In those cases, pretty important to double check rather than go in with our personal complaints.

[@hushamfusion]

How many predators feed exclusively on mosquitoes though? They are NOT the only insects by far, and the role they play could easily be taken by other members of the food chain. It's like getting rid of wasps, you still have bees to do the pollination!

[@Addersea]

@hushamfusion It's not a question of how many exclusively eat mosquitos, but of how many *total* individuals will be around to eat them. You could have 90 species, but 100 of each wouldn't dent the millions of mosquitos around! Webs work on balances. If mosquitos don't pollinate but [fly B] does, and mosquitos are suddenly gone, then [insectivore] eats more [B] to survive, resulting in less pollination. Or, say, we kill 70% of the mosquitos in the first month. [Insectivores] have 70% less access to food, they reduce in numbers, and (amongst many other unintentional consequences) suddenly those mosquitos have more room to reproduce, less food competition, AND no predators - so they begin to reproduce more rapidly than they were before! Our killing 70% may in 6 months lead to an overall increase if not properly managed :') (just an example of where the complexity sits) Plus - it's pretty rare that a niche in an ecosystem has a perfect 1-for-1 replacement readily available. (Because if they did, those two would likely be in direct competition, leading to some sort of resulting resolution - territory wars, one to change something to reduce competition, etc) While it may sound as simple as 'someone else can do it', a web can literally have thousands of species plotted out for one well-documented habitat :') Calculating exactly how to rebalance that after making a major change is like catching a pyramid of cards after kicking the bottom row out!

[@Addersea]

@hushamfusion But most importantly: if experts - the people who study this daily and for decades - haven't eradicated mosquitos yet, it's a safe bet they know something we don't and that's why it hasn't been done! (Even if not a biological reason, maybe it's just not financially or logistically viable at this stage! Loads of complex considerations, and we as non-experts should trust that they're better at their jobs than we are! Hahaha)

[@chillero3heftig712]

Listen @hushamfusion, if the animals that ate mosquitoes have to eat something else now, it'll most likely be bees, as they are easy target for birds. There's much less bees than mosquitoes, so 100% of them might disappear, leaving us without fruits and veggies at all in said regions, and poor flower pollution rate for anything else... To give one specific example.

[@bbsugarsmurf19]

depends on what eats mosquitoes and what other food sources they have

[@joannexdd5628]

mosquitoes are not a main source of food for any animal

[@erik2602]

@@joannexdd5628 There are quite a few birds, spiders, bats and fish that have mosquitoes as a main food source. (not the only food source though that I'm aware of)

[@joannexdd5628]

@@erik2602 give me the names of these species then

[@manta687-h4g]

@@joannexdd5628 Many mosquitoes are polinators

[@SecureBirch410]

@@joannexdd5628 if they contributed nothing to the ecosystem they wouldn't be there in the first place. It would be a waste for organisms to not adapt to eat mosquitoes when they aren't even poisonous, and they have to eat, taking blood is only for their offspring but they are pollinators, its possible there are even plants that rely exclusively on mosquitoes to pollinate them. Additionally, don't forget they have a larval stage, its not just birds and other insects that eat them, they can be critical sources of food for fish. You shouldnt be giving out infomation like "mosquitoes are not a main source of food for any animal" when you don't even know this. You know theres a mosquito fish(litterally called mosquito fish) that eats mosquito larvae?

[@theidpboi6205]

as someone who's been serving as a mosquito buffet for most of his life - f yes. I've literally been making jokes about this for years oml

[@berdwatcher5125]

There gonna leave most mosquitos alone, just the ones that transmit desease. so your still going to get bitten.

[@Ashkanman]

This won't stop you from getting bit

[@thijsvandervoort8261]

"When i become priminister of the world first task on day 1 is killing all mosquitos" that kind of thing? I feel like that too

[@theidpboi6205]

@@Ashkanman i mean sure but it would negate the risks of getting diseases like dengue, which i have personally suffered from - although mine wasn't the most serious case in the world

[@itsDanTubes]

I have a severe case of skeeter syndrome, which means that when a mosquito bites me, I have a strong, long-lasting allergic reaction that causes the affected limb to swell significantly. Additionally, certain blood types attract mosquitoes more, and I have one of those types. As a result, it is torture for me to go outside in the evening when mosquitoes are around. My initial reaction would be: yes. Deciding whether or not to get rid of mosquitoes is a tough question. I assume there would be enough alternative food sources for them, but I wonder if altering mosquito perhaps affects the saliva that could unintentionally create problems for other creatures. It's a complex issue.

[@kshitijbachhav5332]

My heart says absolutely, but they are so prevalent in nature and have been for millions of years that they are a part of our ecosystem so idk.

[@vice.nor.virtue]

there'es literally a thousand other mosquitoes to fill their empty niche. From a fairly educated guess I don't think it's gonna be a big deal, ANNND Even if there are ecological consequences we can always re-introduce them if we have to. Unlike Cane Frogs, Rats, and other invasive species this is legitimately a pandora's box that we can put the lid back on if we have to.

[@pauloperes9378]

Their prevalence in "nature" is near human settlements, like pigeons, rats and stray cats/dogs. They've been "imported" from their ancestral habitats along human migrations and trade routes, evolving with us. Without their former natural pressures to keep their populations to a minimum, they rapidily dominate warm urban and suburban areas. Killing A. aegypti to extinction wouldn't distabilize natural ecosystems.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

just slap them. no need to impose ideologies on this evolutionary failure

[@jer103]

Here in Minnesota, we get bad outbreaks of mosquitoes(we have a lot of lakes and rain). However, in the past few years, we have been getting less rain which led to less mosquitoes. Mosquitoes lay there eggs in water, so with the changing climate might mean less mosquitos in certain areas.

[@zion3335]

ades ageypti mosquito eggs can survive without water also

[@SevenTheMisgiven]

their*

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

I love the idea, but unintended consequences could be terrifying. "Life finds a way"

[@Stiksta]

Life finds a way, just like it did for the dodo eh? We exterminate what could have been a potentially amazing domesticated food source but yet won't kill a literal living plague?

[@maxor2277]

I am confused as to why this is such a heated question when, if this were in a more developed part of the world (change the script and say those are Americans dying from these diseases) then there would be no hesitation to solve this problem ASAP, especially when the only argument is it *might* disrupt the ecosystem by removing a species of deadly mosquito from the food web (assuming we went with the population collapse strategy)

[@peepeetrain8755]

well due to climate change and whatnot, mosquito diseases are spreading further outside the tropics and deeper into temperate land, like USA and Australia have seen more outbreaks of tropical diseases. give it time haha

[@GariFFUSA]

This should be implemented worldwide

[@74mada]

Mosquitoes are a crucial part of many ecosystems, serving as a food source for birds, fish, and other animals, and eliminating them could have unintended consequences for other species that rely on them as a food source. Plus, mosquitoes also play a role in pollination and nutrient cycling.

[@AlecsNeo]

Yes , just yes . No dilemma here.

[@wiandryadiwasistio2062]

mosquitoes ≠ moral dilemma. slap them, it’s justice

[@randomstranger_3]

My question is that if mosquitoes were completely eradicated, is there something WORSE that could replace them like, I dunno, other bugs replacing the role of what mosquitoes do but it's doing ten times more harm to humans as a whole?

[@donaldhobson8873]

Not quickly. Evolution is slow. And if we see something else starting to be a problem, we can zap it with another gene drive.

[@Mal_O_Ware]

I hate how this video summarize the discussion and the dilemma so concisely yet people STILL don't bother to make it to end of the video. We can't just bio-engineer all our issue without delving into the consequences it might pose.

[@hendrixvirus]

Nothing has caused me more suffering in this world than mosquitoes, i will always say yes

[@ChrisWar666]

I think gene drives etc. definitely need extensive studies about the impact, but, in the meantime, 'encouraging' their natural predators in some form might be interesting. Unfortunately, my lizard and spiders don't seem to be doing much against the mozzies here 😞

[@Somaake5]

I am in London right now in September 2024 and mosquitos are doing their job here. A reference to your MAP on the video. Thanks for the video.

[@GI_Jimbo]

Isn't there a possibility that the malaria virus, if ecologically pressured by a collapse in its host's population, could find a new host that is potentially even a more dangerous transmitter of the disease?

[@atlas956]

i don‘t think evolutionary adaptation happens that quickly… if malaria could spread to other species as main hosts, it very likely would already be doing so. and besides, it would be hard to imagine a species more suit for spreading diseases across dozens of species than mosquitos.

[@darealg6823]

Well malaria wouldn't evolve that quickly if its vector population crashes, as it won't be able to spread in the 1st place. Also it's a protozoa, not a virus.

[@zion3335]

does not work like that

[@ldawg7117]

As a few others have said, no it doesn't work like that. Still a good/reasonable question, though.

[@rachelbroughton6457]

Absolutely we should get rid of them. They said it in the first 5 seconds, mosquito’s kill more people than any other animals. The statistics around malaria are just heartbreaking.

[@FinalFire77]

The only problem with completely eradicating mosquitos is that they are a major food source for certain animals, insects and arachnids. You get rid of them completely and we could see a massive reduction in those populations that prey on mosquitos. It may not seem like a big deal at first but overtime it could lead to extinction of some of those specific species. As a species we need to very carefully consider these kinds of decisions because the balance of the food chain could drastically become affected over time.

[@MrRabbit772]

I remember watching a video about how it actually wouldn’t hurt the ecosystem. It’s a

[@FuneFox]

​@@MrRabbit772Probably because other prey animal populations would grow with all the extra food that the mosquitoes aren't eating, so the predators would be fine.

[@G1ingy]

@@MrRabbit772 Is there an actual unbiased research paper rather than "another video"?

[@gamer_dino69yt]

The mosquitoes aren't too deadly themselves It's just the parasite

[@debangan]

But they sure are frustating and irritating to live with

[@ambatuBUHSURK]

@@debangan almost 98% of mosquito species don't even mess with humans yet due to the actions of a few species, they all suffer the blame despite playing vital roles in different eco systems.

[@lonestarr1490]

@@ambatuBUHSURK You and I, we both know that when people say, "KILL ALL THE MOSQUITOS!", they're only refering to those 2% which do, in fact, mess with humans. For the common layman these are the mosquitos, thus nobody really advocates for eradicating every species a scientist might label as "mosquito".

[@ambatuBUHSURK]

@@lonestarr1490 I very much doubt that apart from you, me and many others like ourselves anyone else around the world annoyed by mosquitoes know this particular fact. Even I came to know this a few months ago. This wrong perception is especially due to the fact that humans are mostly surrounded by mosquitoes that DO harm them.

[@TheGregamonster]

The parasite is too small an enemy to combat. The mosquito has the misfortune of being large enough to actually fight.

[@avpaavcomics1299]

We first need an in-depth report of the consequences of the collapse of the population. Since everything is interconnected in a food web, removing something from it might just lead to a crash. On the other hand, scientists should research much more on a perfected cure to the disease, and the biggest ethical question should be answered with this: Should medical services-especially for diseases like malaria- be provided completely free of cost?

[@animationtv426]

No we don't

[@elidoz9522]

the ecosystem isn't that delicate, if a species dies out, it often gets replaced by another species

[@Phukugoooglification]

@@elidoz9522 Hopefully we are the species that dies out.

[@derekpapin2181]

Do u study this?

[@RoyMatzem]

Species dies by itself. "Evolutivon!" Species dies by Humans; "Unnatural Apocalipse! What about the consequences?"

[@o0shivashakti0o]

This feels like a plot point in a sci fi film where we accidentally sterilize all the bees on or something

[@joshsolders5543]

Honestly, I think this raises more pressing questions along the lines of eugenics and other similar concerns. Its not exactly a secret that there are people who desire to do such things and we are moving up the ladder in terms of what we toying around with genetically, so how long until we start playing around with human DNA and start "removing undesirables." We're already considering removing undesirable mosquitos, so how long until we move up the ladder to humans?

[@rainbowmothraleo]

Slippery slope fallacy

[@standowner6979]

Not the same thing.

[@peamutbubber]

It is the same thing, if the wrong people get their hands on the technology its over, they create one female with the genes to make certain populations sterile and the gene will spread and make us extinct

[@peamutbubber]

Ever heard Gradual commitment? If you get someone to do some "less serious" things and slowly increase the seriousness, eventually they will be fine with doing the unthinkable

[@rainbowmothraleo]

@beefsniffer19 it's like saying that if we shoot rabid animals now, we will soon begin to shoot people with HIV. That's not how it works

[@samtheman5555]

As someone from Louisiana: Yes. Damn the consequences.

[@theamericanbrotha]

From Houston. We'll figure out the consequences later

[@DutchDesires]

I recently read an artice about those mutaded mosquitos in the wild. Apparently researchers have already released some of those mutant mosquitos. However according to that article the mosquitos know when a member of their spicies has mutated and will actively avoid them in their quest to mate.

[@Shivermist1]

Eventually, they won't find anyone 🙂

[@jzakary1]

The emotional detachment of this video could only come from someone who isn't directly effected by Malaria. Issues of ethicacy and the environment get thrown out the window when thousands are dying around you.

[@TheDreamLeaf]

Perhaps. Can also be argued that an unbiased view could only be taken by someone who is _not_ directly affected by malaria

[@donaldhobson8873]

It's called being a "bio-ethicist". To justify their own existence, bio-ethicists must make ethics complicated enough to require bio-ethicists to understand. A simple "yes" that is the correct answer in this case is too easy. "More research needed on this difficult question" is what gets the funding. Related stupidities by bio-ethicists. Stopping covid human challenge trials. All the people calling curing blindness a "cultural genocide of blind culture". Anyone saying "death gives meaning to life" or coming up with bizarre contrived ideas on how tech that reversed aging would lead to growing inequality and reduced social mobility, or whatever it is this week.

[@shubhangikundu2827]

Me before and after watching the video : yes 👍

[@sunnymittra]

Happy to see science getting sensible and not blindly doing something and then facing the fatal consequences!

[@Pablito46]

Like most undertakings that aren't fully understood by science, this will end up being a mess. Mosquitoes are key members of ecosystems. Suddenly removing them will likely have widespread ramifications that we couldn't foresee.

[@GaudiFanYAY]

Most scientists consider them to play a limited or minor role. There is no specie that solely relies on mosquitoes, nor do they make up a food source to any significant degree that cannot be replaced by other insects. Their role as a food source is neglectable. The only role that may not be ignorable would be how much competition they offer an ecosystem and even that is in doubt.

[@joannexdd5628]

you are actually incorrect

[@RoyMatzem]

And also there will have excellent ramifications that we could foresee. Stop living in fear and save the godfamn people already...

[@Pablito46]

@@GaudiFanYAY They're also key pollinators

[@Pablito46]

@@RoyMatzem Assessing things critically is akin to living in fear? Or is that just some catch all phrase you use whenever someone doesn't agree with you?

[@tavern.keeper]

There is a lot more potential for gene drive than just mosquitos. A similar strategy could be effective at controlling other pests and invasive species such as asian carp, head lice, zebra muscles, starlings, tumbleweed, wild boars, bedbugs, emerald ash borers, iguanas, and earthworms just to name a few in north america.

[@zion3335]

most mosquitoes are invasive species, they are no different from roaches.

[@sitfish1113]

Wait earthworms? I thought they were good for ecosystems

[@tavern.keeper]

@@sitfish1113 They're invasive in north america. They also reproduce asexually, so maybe this strategy wouldn't work.

[@Daemonrad]

Without the mosquitoes, many animals could decline due to a lack of food. Fish populations could be impacted, as many fish species rely on mosquito larvae as a food source. So no

[@anirudhmalkoti3505]

Yes

[@Gg-ij7li]

Jesus loves you all and is coming back soon! Believe in His death and resurrection and repent of your sins and be saved! Remember that He died and rose up again for you to be in heaven with Him! Have an amazing day ❤️❤

[@omegadeadpool2947]

@@Gg-ij7li Does Jesus come to beings who believe in other Religions?

[@vonslagle]

I think I got maybe 2 mosquito bites in all 20 years of living in San Francisco. I loved that they weren’t there and the Summer temperatures

[@a_bookish_gemini]

I get about 15 on an average day outdoors in GA. The bites are massive and many turn into welts that last for days. Count yourself lucky.

[@60sbabydoll777]

I've has countless mosquito bites in all my 19 years of living in Zambia. Lucky you. I want them dead

[@mondraymondo]

With a title like that I was hoping for a video thay explains the ecological impact mosquitoes have, like, does any insectivore animals rely on them solely or can they substitute their mosquito diet with another prey, and many more. But nope the whole video is about "gene drive" - which while may sound cool, does not answer the question of the title.

[@darkutiz]

Before watching : YEEEESSSS After : hmmm.... 🤔.... yes

[@Dictionary_Remix]

Man get rid of mosquitoes, all my homies hate mosquitoes

[@berdwatcher5125]

your still going to get biten, just not by deadly ones.

[@far2kthoughts158]

This comment is before watching the video: Yes, yes get rid of all mosquitoes!! EDIT: After watching the video: Yes, yes get rid of all mosquitoes!!

[@L_mattox]

I’d like to see further study, before we go wiping out such a common species. Perhaps there’s some genetics work that we can do to reduce or eliminate the risk of mosquito borne disease?

[@vice.nor.virtue]

We can always keep it in labs if we _need_ to reintroduce it. The world has survived pretty happily without smallpox since the 1960s, so I see no reason to not give the same treatment to these vectors of death and suffering.

[@lucasbrant9856]

Its not just disease, they're a legit nuisance to millions or perhaps billions of people all over the world. Imagine needing a mosquito net just so you could get some sleep. Is there even any species that survive on a diet made up exclusively of mosquitoes? Im sure there are other alternative food sources. These things need to be eradicated.

[@zion3335]

the science is settled...its the misinformation campaign which we need to win

[@NobleCG]

Love how almost the entire comment section has no dilemma

[@Boop__Doop]

When any animal kills more humans than humans. That means they deserve "the worst species award"

[@jimysk8er]

I wonder if it would be possible and or effective to have a gene for a softer needle/nose or possibly different feet on mosquitoes that could make praying on humans more difficult. Or a gene that makes them develop a sensitivity to a readily available non toxic aroma like ash or lye or citrus or capsaicin.

[@basiliimakedonas1109]

In the last 10 years mosquitoes in Greece have gotten thrice as large and survive all year round, even if it has 2 weeks of cold and snow outside and neither the stringers insecticides nor repels affect them in the slightest anymore. If you make their population crash this much I'm afraid what kind of semi indestructible monstrosity will emerge from the remaining 1%

[@patrickmccartney2418]

Get rid of the largest vector of disease for all animals: YES

[@bigpharts]

"Dilemma"? Did a mosquito write the title?