Going back to the Zika scare of two years ago, we began testing genetically modified mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. The testing, which was isolated, theorized that by modifying mosquitoes we could breed out females, which are the bloodsuckers, and eventually kill off large populations of mosquitoes altogether without mates for the males. At the time I was highly skeptical of the idea, as much as I would love the result, speaking as a personal mosquito magnet, my concern was with the notion that we would get it right.
Us human types don’t have a good history with manipulating the environment successfully. In fact, there's not a single example of environmental manipulation that I’m aware of that seems to have worked out better than nature itself and we’re a case study for it in Florida. From Lake O’, to our canals, the Everglades, inlets, you name it we’ve made it worse while attempting to make something better. I had a hunch this wouldn’t be any better. And it appears that it isn’t.
The initial tests for genetically modified mosquitoes are in. We’re now getting reports from Brazil that years into the tests not only are mosquito populations larger than ever, mosquitoes appear to be more resilient than ever! Apparently, the attempt to wipe them out allowed the species to develop certain survival abilities that aided in immunity from insecticides and to seek stronger mates creating an even healthier, stronger breed of mosquitoes! Isn’t that special. Aside from this revelation, why is it relevant? We're considering more extensive options in Monroe County with genetically modified mosquitoes right now. What could go wrong?
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