Image: Keystone / Ennio Leanza
The tiger mosquito spreads in the US state of Florida. A controversially discussed experiment with genetically modified mosquitoes is now set to change that. But not everyone thinks that the procedure is correct.
Zika fever, dengue or chikungunya – a bite from the tiger mosquito can transmit numerous dangerous diseases. But the small animal is no longer exclusively at home in its former habitat in the tropics and subtropics. Even in Switzerland, the tiger mosquito has settled in parts of the country, such as Ticino and the canton of Zurich.
A considerable number of these beings now also live in the USA, for example in Florida. So far, the tiger mosquitoes have been declared war with the use of pesticides. But in the meantime, many of the animals have developed immunity, as Andrea Lahal from the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) recently confirmed at a media conference: “Unfortunately, our toolbox is getting smaller and smaller because of the resistance.”
That is why people in the Sunshine State are now resorting to more radical means, as reported by “20min”. At the end of April, the biotech company Oxitec released tens of thousands of tiger mosquito eggs in the Florida Keys. What is special about the “Florida Projects”: the mosquitoes that will hatch in May are genetically modified. There are only males who cannot sting, but should mate with wild females.
Genetically modified animals are not uncommon
If the communalization is successful, a specially developed gene takes over the work. Female offspring of the animals are already wiped out in the larval stage. Male offspring, on the other hand, can also live with the modified gene. This approach is intended to reduce the tiger mosquito population in the coming years. A total of 20 million GM mosquitoes are to be used.
As unusual as the procedure may seem at first glance, such a procedure has already been tried in other US states. Oxitec used genetically modified cabbage moths in New York and a genetically modified red cotton bollworm in Arizona. The gene mosquitoes are not used for the first time either. They have already been tested in Brazil, Malaysia and Panama.
Bild: Keystone/Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau via AP
Skepticism in the population
Despite the wealth of experience, the residents of the Florida Keys view the field test with skepticism. Reasons for protests against the project are, in addition to the fear of stings, the fear that the procedure could have negative consequences for the Florida’s ecosystem. Conspiracy theories were also making the rounds.
“I can imagine that it is very worrying if you do not agree that mosquitoes are released in your neighborhood,” said Molecular biologist Natalie Kofler of Harvard Medical School, who told nature.com: “Before especially if a private company is behind it. ” But the worries would be scientifically refuted, explained Kofler.
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