Shanghaiist: Killer fish to save Shanghai from mozzie plague

Tony Hamley

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:31:05 +0800

You should be ashamed of yourself not liking that wonderful product "Marmite" You probably prefer the Australian imitation "Vegemite" P.S. I really love your Articles :)

nanheyangrouchuan

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:27:50 +0800

Chinese officials probably won't consider draining the large number of decorative ponds around Shanghai, that would be just crazy. Especially those articial, uncirculated ponds advertised as "lakes" at high end apartment complexes. Spraying vegetable oil during during egg laying periods is a possibility, though.

Tim B

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:41:00 +0800

Dan's Simpson reference above is probably the best counter argument against introducing any non-native animal species as a control measure. Using huge numbers of insects instead of Gambusia, carp, or mad Australians flicking towels to destroy mozzies can cause its own problems. Remember what happened when someone blamed the birds for eating all the grain? Insect plagues. When some farmers thought a cane toad would eat cane beetles? There's heaps more examples of these situations around the world. What's one more eh? ]]>

Rob

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:38:28 +0800

When I was an exchange student in Austrlia, we watched a documentary on the killer toads in Queensland for our "Australia Now" class. Very funny movie.. Chinese officials, you've been sufficiently warned.

nanheyangrouchuan

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:27:07 +0800

How is the "mosquito killing" fish more effective than goldfish in all of Shanghai's standing water (aka beautifully decorative ponds that could be removed as a hedge against mosquitoes)? I do remember alot of dragonflies around shanghai, how effective are they against mosquitoes? Ladybugs? Wasps also eat mosquitoes but they aren't that pleasant either.

Dan

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:11:02 +0800

Skinner: Well, I was wrong; the lizards are a godsend. Lisa: But isn't that a bit short-sighted? What happens when we're overrun by lizards? Skinner: No problem. We simply release wave after wave of Chinese needle snakes. They'll wipe out the lizards. Lisa: But aren't the snakes even worse? Skinner: Yes, but we're prepared for that. We've lined up a fabulous type of gorilla that thrives on snake meat. Lisa: But then we're stuck with gorillas! Skinner: No, that's the beautiful part. When wintertime rolls around, the gorillas simply freeze to death.