Science Memes

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submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 136 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

i am under the impression that mosquitos, as an invasive species, do not fill an important ecological niche and could go extinct and be replaced by other insects

[–] [email protected] 68 points 2 weeks ago

I think that's true for the Aedes egypti species at least, they're not native in the Americas and are a main disease-spreading species

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

Invasive where? They can't be invasive in general

[–] [email protected] 46 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

They're invasive of the PLANET

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

I think in Lilo and Stitch the aliens mention in passing that they use Earth as a wildlife preserve for mosquitoes.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 weeks ago

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are invasive in all of North and South America

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago

They're invading my personal space

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago

My back patio, the little shits

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 weeks ago

Many of the most common species of mosquitos in america are invasive

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This has been a common sentiment but it hasn’t been proven in any substantial way to my knowledge. I personally doubt it’s accurate. That’s not to say the entire ecosystem would collapse but there would likely be consequences.

That said, the other commenter is correct that there are many introduced mosquito species that could probably be eradicated from their non-native range without major ecological harm. And the species that are the worst pests in human cities tend to be introduced, so eliminating them might significantly reduce the level of bites and disease transmission for people.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Mosquitos are a nuisance to every mammal, I think if we could talk to animals this is how it would go down

Human: "So anyways we've been mulling over making the mosquito extinct, but it might have some consequences for yo..."

Mammals: "WTF BRO YOU COULD HAVE DONE THAT THE ENTIRE TIME! WHY TF ARE YOU STILL HERE GET RID OF THOSE FUCKERS!"

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago

TBF humans historically have been pretty lax in doing anything simply because it was a good thing to do

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yeah I mean the ethics of how humans relate to wild mammals are so complicated and confusing that I’m not even going to go there.