Another Op-Ed That Went Nowhere

 

Well, it's spring again and time to beg people not to have their yards sprayed for mosquitoes. You know what would be nice? If the people in charge of protecting our wildlife took real action on the subject, but, of course, we live in a world where the almighty dollar and a pathological desire for convenience reigns supreme. So, pest control companies grow larger, our wildlife populations grow smaller, and concerned citizens grow increasingly gloomy about the future of nature. 

In fact, I think it is fair to say that at this point, nature is endangered. Humans have pushed it to the brink, since we have occupied most of the land, and are leaving the rest of the creatures on this planet with fewer places to go. Ironically, encounters with wildlife may increase in this situation, creating the illusion of wildlife abundance when, in fact, the numbers indicate otherwise.

As only a part of this complex problem, here come the residential mosquito control companies, making the outdoors “fun” again. They say that what they use is “natural” and “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved” and that they are careful about application, but these are dubious claims that any amateur entomologist could refute.

Let me give it a whirl.

First, these companies use pyrethroids, broad spectrum and deadly poisons. No matter how careful one is, pyrethroids will end up killing butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, crickets, beetles, fireflies and many more innocuous and beneficial species. It is a synthetic version of a natural substance, with additives to make it persist longer in the environment than its Chrysanthemum derived counterpart. It is approved by the EPA but this is a meaningless claim, since the EPA (in its previous incarnation) has determined that pyrethroids are indeed “bad”, but that the economic pros outweigh the effects on human health and the environment. Yup, the almighty dollar again. Who knows what our present EPA will decide. Maybe they’ll encourage us to drink it twice a day to prevent measles.

Second, the use of these substances will create even worse problems over time as the wildly prolific mosquito develops resistance while less hardy natural enemies do not adapt quite so efficiently. Furthermore, the prevalence of arthropod borne diseases is rising due to climate change, so our urge to spray our troubles away will intensify. Are we having “fun” yet?  I hear there are no mosquitoes on Mars.

Third, it is not necessary to resort to hiring these companies at all. There are inexpensive, non-toxic methods of mosquito control if people would just do a little homework. By the way, this long list of solutions does not include a bug zapper, which kills many more beneficial insects than it does mosquitoes. These, too, should be discontinued for the sake of our struggling insects. I’m partial to nature-based solutions: building habitat for our mosquito eating friends like bats and dragonflies. But if that sounds like too much work, get a fan.

I should point out that even if you don’t like insects at all, many other groups of animals (that perhaps you do like) depend on them directly or indirectly. I could make the argument that one beloved group of animals in particular: humans, also depends on insects. However, this argument is not one I tend to utilize since I maintain that animals do not exist for us, they exist with us. It is our obligation as thinking, compassionate beings, to share this planet equitably. This should be argument enough.

Please, neighbor, don’t use pesticides. They are poisons and will have deleterious effects on human health and the environment no matter how careful you are. In fact, let’s take it even further. Let’s support nature by winding down our wildlife damaging behaviors and treating our fellow animals with the respect they deserve. Restore habitat, promote biodiversity and coexist, people, or we will be living in a world where the animals we regard as “pests” will be all that remains.