Regulation of Insect Populations

For example, mosquitos have been the subject of much research since they can be carriers of malaria (1:546). One of the ways scientists have sought to control malaria is through insect genetics. In the early 1960s, the disease seemed under control. Field workers, using DDT, were able to stop the disease by attacking its transmission routes, or vectors--malaria-carrying mosquitos. However, by the end of the decade, mosquitos developed a resistance to DDT and other insecticides. The mosquitos also became resistant to the technique of swamping insect populations with sterile males to slow down their rate of reproduction. Scientists tried another technique, that of the vaccine, but the malaria parasite, which developed a resistance to the drugs, invaded the candidate vaccines.

Science has now turned to another area, that of genetic engineering, to eradicate the disease. Instead of trying to eradicate the insects, vector biologists are attempting to produce transgenic strains that are incapable of transmitting disease (1:546). Researchers are currentl

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t their fruit-sweetened bodily fluids (2:315). Since the fruit flies existed for millions of years with few predators and had the opportunity to develop into hundreds of species, they provide a near-perfect means for researchers to retrace the steps of the evolutionary process. According to Hampton L. Carson of the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, the Hawaiian Drosophila are one of the most complete data sets in existence. Carson added that the fruit flies may play an important role in the Hawaiian ecosystem because their larvae eat decaying fruit and plant matter, which helps recycle forest nutrients. Some of the fruit flies may also act as pollinators (2:315). The Argentine ant, a voracious newcomer to Hawaii, has been the object of intense study recently. This is because it eats every insect it can, including pollinators. If it is allowed to spread, it will decimate the native fauna wherever it goes (2:315). Since it eats insect that pollinate many of the plants of Haleakala National Park on Hawaii's island of Maui, its presence could indirectly lead to the eradication of the only native plants that can exist at high elevations in that area. There is also evidence that these ants are usurping the ecosystem's normal
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Some common words found in the essay are:
According Bruckstein, , California Florida, Biological Control, Museum Honolulu, Roger Akre, According Akre, Hawaiian Drosophila, Haifa Israel, Silverman Bieman, yellow jackets, insect populations, fruit flies, surface body, alien species, 1993 august, bait trays, percent body water, hawaii's flora, plant debris, wasp lay egg, yellow jacket, 2315 fruit flies, 115 degrees fahrenheit,
Approximate Word count = 2767
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)

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