Scientists Release Millions of Live Mosquitoes in Hawaii to Save a Bird Species From Extinction

Mosquitoes have caused more than a ruckus in the Hawaiian forests. They have led to the decline of one of the precious songbird species of the finch family, the honeycreepers. About 50 species of these birds once thrived; 17 have already gone extinct. The surviving species nest in higher altitudes where mosquitoes cannot survive due to low temperatures. However, climate change has allowed the disease-causing mosquitoes to migrate further, thus threatening the survival of the remaining honeycreepers. In a fight against the mosquito terror in Maui and Kauai, environmental organizations have teamed up to release containers full of mosquitoes into honeycreeper habitats. Fret not. The mosquitoes are lab-grown male ones containing a bacterial strain called Wolbachia.

In the past two centuries, Hawaii has witnessed an extinction crisis like no other. The spread of non-native species like stray cats and feral pigs has led to a decline of life that were native to the region. Snails, birds, and other animals have now gone extinct, and scientists are trying everything in their power to bring the extinction to a halt. The spread of malaria amongst songbirds remains a recurring problem in the Hawaiian forests. One would imagine mosquitoes are common in forests, but Hawaii was once free of these blood-sucking pests until a whaling ship introduced them to the island. 

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