Should We Eradicate Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes are common flying insect that inhabit all continents except Antarctica. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, but only somewhere between 6 and 9.3% bite humans and are disease vectors. That said, mosquitos are the deadliest animal on the planet, thanks to their role as a vector for disease. So, would we be better off getting rid of this pesky insect? Casey and Sara discuss the role of mosquitos in the environment, the pros and cons of eradication, and why mosquito gut bacteria is more important than you might expect!

Resources for this episode:

Mosquitopia - NCBI Bookshelf

MOSQUITOES

Why Are Some People Tastier to Mosquitoes Than Others? | Pfizer

About Mosquitoes - CDC

Robust network stability of mosquitoes and human pathogens of medical importance | Parasites & Vectors

Can Garden Plants Really Repel Mosquitoes? - Consumer Reports.

Invasive Mosquitoes - Birds Not Mosquitoes

Aedes communis: The Pollinating Mosquito.

Millions of Mosquitoes Will Rain Down on Hawaii to Save an Iconic Bird | Scientific American

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes - CDC