Voters approve GMO mosquito trials in Florida Keys

[Lodestone]

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots...fight-zika

Amazing what a little Zika can do. I imagine that whatever unintended side-effects the opponents could dream up, nothing is more frightening than deformed, tiny-brained, chronically-ill babies.

[Justin]

Good to hear. I'm curious what percentage of the populace here would vote in favor of a similar referendum. I appreciate many people will never feel such a technology is fully ready, and will always allege more studies need to be done, but I also appreciate many others being told "don't get bit by mosquitoes" isn't much of a defense to all of the nasty diseases they harbor and spread.

[Guest]

The Mosquito is an interesting insect that may have a greater importance to the ecosystem than some think. The Mosquitoes can help pollinate different flowers. So "if" most of the native birds and bees die off due to the great loss of the Ohia trees on our Island from the "ROD", then mosquitoes could play a larger role as pollinators for the plant life we do have. Mosquitoes also may provide food for fish and other wildlife like birds, lizards, frogs, spiders, ect.

http://www.mosquitoreviews.com/mosquitoe...ystem.html

I know we the People are of great importance to this planet, but maybe Less tourism from disease infected countries or tourism with stiffer traveling health regulations may be worth trying before adding any GMO mosquitoes to these Islands. jmo

P.S. The many Mosquito's do not start or create the diseases, they carry or spread them.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

The Mosquitoes can help pollinate different flowers. So "if" most of the native birds and bees die off ...then mosquitoes could play a larger role as pollinators for the plant life we do have.

Flower pollinators are generally specific to the the species of plant/flower that is being pollinated. That is, the shape and location of the anther, stigma, pollen, etc of the flower all play into whether a specific type of bird, bee, or mosquito can play the role of pollinator. A mosquito can't simply start to pollinate a flower that was previously pollinated by a bird.

“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

[leilanidude]

Nice try, gypsy, but I guess you didn't realize that mosquitoes are an introduced species on the islands. In other words, an invasive species, as in they don't belong here to begin with. Getting rid of them will help to put the islands ecosystem back where it used to be.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

play a larger role as pollinators for the plant life we do have

People can be trained to hand pollinate many types of flowers. It would be a massive undertaking, but if there was a group who cared deeply for the aina, a large group with dedicated followers who could amass, let's say, at least 70,000 Facebook supporters or "100,000" backers to march in a parade down Kalakaua Ave in Honolulu, a group of this size could make a positive impact in saving the remaining flora of Hawaii Island.

If they put their backs into the project as committed, dedicated protectors of the forests it could work. Then, with flowers pollinated, and even trees planted to replace the lost ohia across tens of thousands of acres in East Hawaii, their efforts might even save and protect the watershed.

gypsy, would you know of any people, or a group that professes these ideals?

“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

[Guest]

Good morning Leilanidude and Happy Thanksgiving in advance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawaiian_Islands

They "Mosquitoes" Don't belong here to begin with, hmmm. Who was introduced to these Sandwich Islands first, The invasive Mosquito, or mankind?


I think We established on a previous thread that the Ohia tree was introduced here long before mankind. The Ohia tree now faces possible extinction on our Island within the next hundred years. Over the years The Ohia Tree was often seen or treated by many much like the mosquito, Usually being counted by the millions while mostly going unnoticed or appreciated in our once unique rain forest or ecosystem.
Mankind may need to take on a larger role of being this planets guardians and protectors rather than the usual exploring developers and consumers they have become over the years. jmo

[kalakoa]

know of any people, or a group that professes these ideals?

That depends. How much does it pay?

[seekir]

gypsy69:

quote:

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They "Mosquitoes" Don't belong here to begin with, hmmm. Who was introduced to these Sandwich Islands first, The invasive Mosquito, or mankind?

---

My understanding is that the latter (ka haole) brought the former in water barrels, or perhaps in bilge water, and that Kanaka maoli and native birds did not have to endure the presence of mosquitoes prior to the arrival of Europeans. Personally, I'd favor any safe procedure that would rid the islands of mosquitoes. Hope they're working on the LFA too.