It is winter time and few people think about mosquitoes at this time of year, but planning
for their spring and summer invasions requires forethought. Being retired affords me
the luxury of reading books and magazines and Google searches that pique my interest.
Here's what I have been learning about mosquitoes:

DDT was a popular chemical widely used in the U.S., until three decades ago,
when it was banned. DDT was sprayed on lawns and shrubs in home gardens
and on farms and orchards, to eradicate harmful insects. Rachel Carson,
(Silent Spring, 1962), documented the evils of DDT and other insecticides
that were commonly used at that time, and helped influence the
U.S. government to ban its widespread use.

Recently, scientists have been revisiting the use of DDT to combat malaria in
South Africa. In Mexico, they are successfully dealing with mosquito-breeding
by spraying safer pesticides called "permethrins."

The wettest summer on record in Dallas, Texas produced a huge community
of long-jawed orb weaver spiders. The population of these spiders, together with
other varieties, produced a gigantic web that trapped millions of mosquitoes.
Perhaps introducing spiders and other helpful insects
into our environment might help balance nature in our favor.

Want to learn more?

www.mods.org is the web site for Museum of Discovery & Science
"Better Planet," Discover Magazine, November, 2007, page 34-36.

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