Cabanova: Slovakia Home to More than 60 Mosquito Species

Bratislava, 8 August (TASR) - There are more than 60 species of mosquito in Slovakia, which is a relatively large number, scientist Viktoria Cabanova from the Biomedical Centre of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) told TASR earlier this week, adding that ten common species are most frequently found near dwellings, in particular the common house mosquito. According to her, mosquitoes are useful creatures, serving as food for a large number of other animals, with fish and amphibians feeding on their larvae, while swallows and bats catch the adults. "We often fail to realise that we are destroying biodiversity and habitats, and they are then unable to help us regulate mosquito populations," she noted. Cabanova added that only female mosquitoes bite humans, as they require blood to nourish their eggs. Male mosquitoes feed on nectar or sugary juices. She also pointed to genetically modified mosquitoes, which scientists began breeding in order to find a sustainable way to combat large mosquito populations and the diseases they transmit. "Genetically modified mosquitoes are released after being modified so that their offspring cannot reproduce, thus naturally reducing their population, which in turn reduces the number of infections that they transmit," stated Cabanova. As genetically modified organisms cannot be released into the wild in Europe, this has so far been done only under supervision in certain areas of South America and the USA. In Europe, sterilised insects irradiated with X-rays have been released instead. "This is also a very effective method, albeit requiring a much larger number of mosquitoes, and it's also more expensive financially," added Cabanova, noting that money-wise, genetic modification is more sustainable. She stressed that mosquitoes cannot be eradicated, and the idea that sterile insects will one day completely replace wild ones is a utopia. jrg/df/mf