The microsporidian Brachiola gambiae parasitizes the mosquito Anopheles gambiae. Adult female mosquitoes must take blood meals for their eggs to develop, and it is while they take blood that they transmit malarial parasites to humans. Male mosquitoes drink flower nectar. If humans are to safely and effectively use Brachiola gambiae as a biological control to reduce human deaths from malaria, then how many of the following statements should be TRUE?
1) Brachiola should kill the mosquitoes before the malarial parasite they carry reaches maturity.
2) The microsporidian should not be harmful to other insects.
3) Microsporidians should infect mosquito larvae, rather than mosquito adults.
4) The subsequent decline in anopheline mosquitoes should not significantly disrupt human food resources or other food webs.
5) Brachiola must be harmful to male mosquitoes but not to female mosquitoes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is true because if Brachiola kills the mosquitoes before they become infected with malarial parasites, it would effectively reduce transmission of malaria to humans. Statement 2 is true because Brachiola should only affect Anopheles mosquitoes, not other beneficial insects. Statement 3 is not necessarily true because the microsporidian could infect both larvae and adults. Statement 4 is true because a disruption in food webs could have negative consequences on human populations. Statement 5 is not necessary true because male mosquitoes do not transmit malaria, so it is not crucial for Brachiola to be harmful to them. Therefore, the correct answer is C (1, 2, and 4).

The Microsporidian Brachiola Gambiae Parasitizes the Mosquito Anopheles Gambiae