EPA approves use of mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia bacteria

General Gardening
#1

Hurray!
The approval covers 20 states and D.C.

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#2

Awesome! Now if they can come up with a virus for gnats.

#3

I think you misunderstood. The Wolbachia bacteria destroys dengue (a nasty disease) in mosquitoes. It does not kill the mosquitoes. :slight_smile:

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#4

Lol, sorry I just glanced at the article.

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#5

After actually reading the article I can see why this is a big deal. Hopefully, these viruses won’t develop a resistance to this bacteria.

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#6

I had Dengue four years ago. Thought I would die.

#7

All very well, but we should get rid of the mosquitoes

#8

Mrs. G.!! That’s a horrible disease. :cry:

#9

Yes! Long story :nauseated_face:

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#10

If it works, the guy deserves a Nobel prize, imo (Maybe it would fall under the prize for Physiology and Medicine?) He’s the very definition of persistent.

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#11

For the longest time I’ve wondered what good do mosquitoes do? They must be part of some creatures lifecycle that is important to our planet?

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#12

Mrs. G,

I thought the same thing about house flies :wink:

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#13

They’re very low on the food chain and hence breed like crazy. Aquatic creatures, larger insects, reptiles, bats, birds – incl. hummingbirds are all predators of mosquitoes.

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#14

They spread death and disease to many other species

But the worst thing is human activity, which obliterates so many other creatures attempting to control mosquitoes

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