Mosquitoes and Tourism: Cyprus is Fighting these 'Birds' of Prey
Author: Roger Munns Date posted: Jan 16, 2009 Article views: 120 Wordcount: 557 Ezine Ready
Many countries the world over have longstanding jokes about how the mosquito is the national "bird." This bloodthirsty pest has a hardiness that makes it one of the world's most prolific scourges. Mediterranean tourist destinations like Cyprus have begun to feel the bite in recent years. A concern for the mosquito's economic impact and public health recently prompted officials in Cyprus to seek a solution.
Fighting this pesky bug has become more difficult over the last decade for two major reasons. First, global warming has led to an increase in the mosquito population over the last several years. The problem may only get worse if global warming cannot be reined in.
The second roadblock to eradicating this pesky problem is the public's decreasing tolerance for the use of pesticides. Reduced pesticide use is a positive thing overall. The United Nations has spent numerous hours studying the worldwide impact of pesticide use. Bans on the cosmetic use of pesticides are growing increasingly common all over the world as a result.
The use of pesticides to reduce the mosquito population is a more complicated problem. Some pesticides have been associated with illnesses like cancer, birth defects, chronic respiratory problems and other negative health issues. Some pesticides have been proven to cause health problems in humans. Many others remain on suspect lists.
The mosquito, on the other hand, has become more than just a cosmetic nuisance. Mosquitoes have long been some of the biggest culprits in the transmission of disease. They are known to transmit illnesses such as malaria, dengue fever and Yellow fever. One of the latest problems to emerge in North American mosquitoes is the transmission of the West Nile virus.
Humans are not the only organisms affected by mosquito-borne illnesses. They also affect animals. Various strains of mosquito-borne viruses causing equine encephalitis are becoming more common.
Mosquito-borne diseases that were once all but eradicated in some countries are beginning to emerge again. This is one reason Cyprus officials began to look into alternative methods for reducing its pest population. Another reason was a noticeable increase in the number of these insects. The result is a three-year study on the island's pesky insect population.
The study, which began in 2005, was a joint effort between local scientists and researchers from Greece and the United States. Together they tested a number of more environmentally friendly methods for targeting the elimination of mosquitoes. Some incorporated the use of pesticides which have little or no negative impact on humans and animals. Other methods saw certain types of natural mosquito predators introduced into key breeding areas.
The three year study yielded some fascinating results. Dragonflies turned out to be fairly effective killers. Other natural predators used included frogs, flies and fish.
Another test used the chemicals Methoprene and Pyriproxyfen. These products inhibit the growth of mosquito larva rather than killing the adult insects. Researchers in Cyprus discovered that these chemicals were effective even at half the recommended dosage.
It appears that so far tourists haven't abandoned Cyprus as a vacation spot. The allure of sunshine and sandy beaches continues to trump the mosquito. It's likely there will always be more reason to visit Cyprus than to stay away. However, tourists on Cyprus who consider the insects vacation invaders may find the problem reduced in years to come.
Holidays and flights information for Cyprus is available with yourcyprus.info
Accommodation and hotels in Cyprus are featured at the Cyprus guide along with some articles on their blog.
They also have the Cyprus weather and a map of Cyprus
