It seems like a world without mosquitoes is almost paradise. But as soon as the thought “what if we destroy them?” appeared, immediately followed by dozens of difficult questions: Will the disease disappear? Will the ecosystem collapse? Who will get hurt? and in general – is this real?
Today, scientists are seriously discussing the extermination of certain species of mosquitoes – mainly those that carry deadly diseases. According to the World Health Organization, each year more than 200 million people get malaria and hundreds of thousands die. Mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles carry malaria, Aedes aegypti – dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya and yellow fever virus. It's no surprise that eliminating vectors sounds like it could save millions of lives.
But it's important to understand: there are about 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world, and only a few dozen are truly dangerous to humans. The rest do not infect people with anything.
Ecosystem functions are performed by mosquitoes
1. Pollination
Yellow fever mosquitoes are effective pollinators of northern orchids (Platanthera obtusata): behavioral and electrophysiological experiments have shown that male and female mosquitoes target flower volatiles and transmit pollen; Without mosquitoes, the reproductive performance of these plants will decrease. Recent reviews indicate that the role of bloodsuckers as pollinators is underestimated, reported in PNAS.
2. Food chain
In the Arctic, bloodsuckers feed on insectivorous birds and bats; Their larvae are a food source for aquatic predators and detritivores. Reduced mosquito numbers (e.g. due to warming temperatures) affect the ability of chicks to survive; Research in Greenland shows that larval development increases as temperatures increase, shifting the mortality/adult balance and limiting food availability for birds.
If all mosquitoes were eliminated, the food chain could rearrange itself. Perhaps other insects will replace them. But in areas where they are the main food source for certain species, animals can start to die en masse.
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3. Cycle of substances
Mosquito larvae process microorganisms and organic particles in stagnant water, promoting mineralization and transferring biomass from aquatic environments to land when adults emerge; In controlled experiments, the results are published above PMCThe presence of larvae altered the microbial community and energy flow. Removal of this functional group at a biological scale has the potential to alter the trophic and biochemical structure of local water bodies.
Is it even possible to kill all mosquitoes?
Eradicating all species is practically impossible and extremely dangerous. Mosquitoes live almost everywhere except Antarctica. Their biomass is very large and their life cycle is very fast. Technically, it is almost impossible to completely destroy everyone. But modern technologies make it possible to fight specific dangerous species:
- gene editing (for example, introducing sterile males),
- infected with Wolbachia bacteria, reduces the ability to transmit the virus,
- Genetic drive limits the population of only one specific species.
What if everyone disappears?
More possibilities:
- In some regions, it will be difficult for the ecosystem to notice any changes.
- Bird numbers may decrease in tundra and wetlands
- Pollination of some plants will decrease.
- The composition of aquatic ecosystems will change.
- But in the long run, other insects will partially fill the void.
In short: killing all mosquitoes is neither necessary nor practical. But reducing the number of dangerous species is reasonable and already possible. This would radically reduce deaths from malaria and viral infections without destroying the entire natural system.
We have previously written about why dogs and cats are allergic to their owners.
