Is It Possible That Mosquitoes Will Become Extinct?
WouterSeveral factors make it unlikely that mosquitoes will become extinct. First, it is expensive and risky to kill mosquitoes. Second, they have an important role in the ecosystem. Third, they carry diseases such as malaria. Lastly, they are a key food source for animals. Species such as salamanders and lizards would find it difficult to survive without mosquitoes.
Fortunately, scientists have developed a technique known as ‘gene drive’ that aims to eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes. It works by forcing evolution’s hand. It involves genetic modification that affects the mosquito’s sperm production and X-chromosomes. This means more male offspring will be born, reducing the mosquitoes’ ability to create colonies.
In addition to eradicating malaria-carrying mosquitoes, scientists believe it will help reduce the disease’s human impact. It’s estimated that malaria kills more than one million people a year. If the malarial mosquitoes are eliminated, there would be fewer malaria deaths, and the health system could save many lives.
Ultimately, though, it is impossible to eradicate all mosquito species. If they were to disappear, other species would fill the void. They would eat other insects and adapt to other prey. Hundreds of fish species would also face an adverse effect, as they would have to replace the larvae they eat with other foods.
While many species will adapt to other food sources, others will go hungry. Especially in the Arctic, where mosquitoes are prevalent, caribou are at risk of being choked.
Other insects such as house martins are also at risk. In Camargue, France, researchers tracked the birds’ feeding habits after spraying them with a microbial mosquito-control agent. They found that two chicks per nest were raised after the treatment.
