Mosquitoes are responsible for millions of deaths around the world. The problem is, science isn’t advanced enough to make them disease-resistant, yet pesticides are leading to even bigger worldwide problems. Researchers in Australia think they may have found a new green solution.
According to the University of Queensland biologist Scott O’Neill, they’ve bred mosquitoes who are living for only 21 days as compared to 50 days.
Once a mosquito encounters dengue or malaria, it takes roughly two weeks of incubation before the insect can spread that pathogen by biting someone, meaning older mosquitoes are the more dangerous ones.
The Australian scientists knew that one type of fruit fly often is infected with a strain of bacterial parasite that cuts its lifespan in half.
Breeding mosquitoes that die younger can cut down on the need for more dangerous pesticides, though messing with mother nature in an way could pose unforeseen problems…
Picture from sxc.hu via bulentince.
Why not just trap and kill. It is straightforward. The mosquito attractants needed looks good enough re: mosquito attractant mma at youtube. Infecting mosquitoes does not sound good at all. Reminds me of the movie Resident Evil where mutants are created. Then you still have to kill them.