The most literate and persuasive voice in this topic is a stilled one - a
friend of shells by the name of Rachel Carson. Her book "Silent Spring" is
still the definitive reference on the effects of pesticides. I am still
terrified of all pesticide products after multiple readings of this work. If
you haven't read this book recently - please re-read it, if you haven't ever
read it please do so. Her presentation and simple discussion of the effects
and methods used in pesticides will educate and revise your views on this
topic.

As to a viral control agent, virtually every time man has tried to
artificially control a naturally governed process,  disaster occurs. The
history of biological control science is ripe with stories of introduced
species that either changed prey, didn't predate on the target species at
all [mongooses in the Caribbean and the extirpation of native bird life], or
accomplished their goal [elimination of a target species] and then went on
to wreak havoc on other beneficial species. There have been successful
control efforts but these largely relate to the release of sexually sterile
males [screw-worm flies, et al). If there is a mosquito problem then lets
find a way to break the reproductive cycle or more importantly realize that
we are a part of this ecosystem and should accept it for what it is.
Designer ecosystems altered at our whim is yet another prescription for
disaster. How arrogant and stupid have we become?

Didn't Joni Mitchell say "give spots on my apples but leave me the birds and
the bees now - Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've
got till its gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

I live in Florida and you cannot imagine the bio-diversity in the area of
the insects. We have 67 species of mosquito and 74 species of cockroach, 4
disastrous species of termites, fire ants, killer bees [rumored], and quite
a few biting gnats [no-see-um's]. Living here is a challenge - but if you
can't deal with the fauna move to someplace less threatening.

I agree with everyone that the rampant use of malathion, and other synthetic
pesticides is one of the most dire threats facing us today. In 1993, when we
lived in Missouri, there were disastrous floods. We adopted a poor stray cat
from the flood area. Three years later that cat developed liver failure and
died. The vet said that it was probably due to a single episode of exposure
to high doses of pesticide. When the farms flooded, the barrels/bags of
pesticide stored in their barns mixed with the flood water and turned many
of the floodplains quite sterile of many animals. I remember scenes of fish
kills on flooded farmland. When will we learn?

Bob & Rosemary

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