Photo: Insects and Fruit. Provider: Rijksmuseum. Netherlands. Public Domain and Unsplash license
Unless ye must,
Bruise not the serpent in the dust,
How much less wound a man.
And if ye can,
No ant should ye alarm,
Much less a brother harm.
Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, 206
by Christine Muller
There are good reasons to protect ourselves from mosquito bites. They can carry dangerous viruses such as West Nile, Zika, and Dengue fever. However, scientific studies show that bug zappers are not effective for mosquito control and that they are killing all insects indiscriminately.
The ultraviolet light of bug zappers attracts all insects that fly in the evening and during the night: moths, beetles, fireflies, and midges. These insects are highly important as pollinators and as food sources for other animals.
The abundance of pollinators and insects has drastically diminished within the past few decades. This puts at risk the health of entire ecosystems—as well as human existence—all of which depend on the diversity and abundance of life to survive. We must cherish and protect the insects we still have!
In addition, bug zappers electrocute the insects. Their explosion spreads infectious viruses and bacteria, and breathing in particles of bugs is not appealing.
There are better ways to control mosquitoes. They lay eggs in standing water, so try to remove any containers where water can collect, or empty them weekly so that the eggs have no chance of developing.
If you are concerned about the health risks of mosquitoes and want to do more, you can try to catch and kill them in a way that does not harm other insects. This short video explains one such method. (If you try that approach, using a dark or black bucket may be more effective.)
Enjoy the summer and the beautiful diversity of insects we still have!
