The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator in Science and Inquiry

Dec 11, 2020 Mary rated it really liked it

Shelves: science, history

The Mosquito carries a variety of diseases that make it the most successful killer the world has ever known. Yellow Fever, Malaria, Zika, and West Nile virus are all spread by this blood sucker. It facilitates diseases moving from animals to humans.

Dr. Winegard’s book chronicles the history of the mosquito overtime. The mosquito has played a role in battles between states and countries through out history. From the days of the Roman Empire to WWII battles in Italy, the mosquito was there killin The Mosquito carries a variety of diseases that make it the most successful killer the world has ever known. Yellow Fever, Malaria, Zika, and West Nile virus are all spread by this blood sucker. It facilitates diseases moving from animals to humans.

Dr. Winegard’s book chronicles the history of the mosquito overtime. The mosquito has played a role in battles between states and countries through out history. From the days of the Roman Empire to WWII battles in Italy, the mosquito was there killing soldiers more efficiently than the war. Astute generals tried to avoid making camp or fighting battles in mosquito breeding grounds but sometimes it was unavoidable.

The mosquito also influenced the course of nations expanding their desire for more territory. The native population had often developed some immunities whereas invaders did not have this advantage.

Like the cockroach, the mosquito can develop immunities to the chemicals man designs to kill it like DDT. The diseases the mosquito spreads become resistant to the drugs scientists create to cure patients.

With the advent of global warming, mosquito breeding grounds are expanding. Thanks to generous donors like Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffet work is underway to combat future disease spread and deaths. The most promising solution on the horizon is the technology that is called CRISPER which allows the genes of biological systems like mosquitos and humans to be manipulated. The goal would be to stop mosquitoes from being disease carriers by altering their genetic code and spreading this change through the mosquito population during it reproduction phase.

Winegard has written an incredibly well researched book on this vital topic. Crammed with lots of facts, figures, and footnotes it can be dry reading at times. But will make you think about history in a different light. I don’t remember any of my history teachers discussing the impact of mosquitoes on Civil War battles. Or their use as potential biological weapons. Well worth reading.

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Jul 19, 2021 Mag rated it really liked it

World history as influenced by the mosquito borne diseases that disabled the troops and decided the outcomes of wars, conflicts, colonization efforts, etc. It’s a history book, not a science book. I found it interesting but not riveting.

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