Humans too stung by mosquitoes to change

That is why the day dedicated to them is always spent in denunciation, not praise.

By ET Bureau | Aug 22, 2019, 08.33 AM IST

At a time when there’s a buzz about the need to save bees for the future of our planet, comes the churlish revelation that if all mosquitoes in the world are eliminated, not even the creatures who traditionally feed off their larvae will mourn a diminution of their diet. On the other hand, many diseases would have one less vector available as a way to spread.

Even cockroaches have their fans but mosquitoes would be hardpressed to find a human admirer. That’s why probably though mosquitoes have a day dedicated to them — commemorating Ronald Ross’ discovery of the link between them and malaria on August 20, 1897 — it is spent not in praise but dire prognostication.

Rare is the human like Napoleon Bonaparte who found utility in their affinity for human blood. He had flooded lowlands during the Walcheren expedition so that swarms of energised mosquitoes could decimate British troops for him. It is a commentary on the perfidy of mosquitoes, however, that their brethren were later responsible for the deaths of thousands of Napoleon’s troops in the Caribbean.

Needless to add, even though male mosquitoes are vegetarian and the female ones gravitate towards lifestyle preferences such as fine perfumes, bright clothes and certain types of liquor when deciding on their human dinner options, it will not endear them to us.

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