Mosquitopia informs us about the evolutionary success of mosquitoes as individuals and as species. Even if viewed mostly as disease agents, many mosquito species are harmless to humans and may render important ecosystem services. Their ubiquitous presence irks and annoys and their annihilation has been a long human pursuit. Yet all organized and unorganized efforts to exterminate or eliminate mosquitoes have met with failures over the last century except for some highly disciplined systematic campaigns to uproot species in Brazil, Egypt and Sardinia. While dealing with mosquitoes, humans need to exercise extreme caution and restraint. One should attempt basic mosquito control, rather than sledge-hammer approaches for elimination, combining contemporary wisdom and integrating feasible and sustainable options. The amalgamation of the best old and new methods is the need of the hour. All 17 chapters in this volume make fascinating reading and provide important insights for avoiding hubris while respecting rights, human and mosquito, to live in better harmony with nature.
© 2022 selection and editorial matter, Marcus Hall and Dan Tamïr; individual chapters, the contributors.