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.

A) 2 and 5

B) 1, 2, and 4

C) 2, 3, 5

D) 3 and 4

Question

Biology

Duncan Macdonald

13 November, 20:50

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.

A) 2 and 5

B) 1, 2, and 4

C) 2, 3, 5

D) 3 and 4

+5

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Michelle Fuller · Answer 1

The correct answer is B. 1, 2, and 4

Explanation:

Option no 1 is true because before maturity, the mosquitoes will not be able to cause malaria and will be easier to kill.

Option no 2 is true because in order to ensure a safe control, the Brachiola gambiae shouldn't be dangerous to other animals or insects.

Option No 3 is not true because Mosquito larvae will contain the male larvae also. As the male larvae are not harmful, hence their growth shouldn't be stopped or they should not be killed.

Option No 4 is correct because before applying any controlling measures for a problem, it should always be kept in mind that it should not have negative effects on other food systems.

Answer No 5 is false because as the females Anopheles are harmful, they should be killed. The male Anopheles are not harmful hence, they should not be killed.