Millions of GMO insects could be set loose in Florida Keys

[mike_c]

29. nothing whatsoever that's unique to GMOs....

I mean, the point is vector control, so this will remove significant amounts of Aedes aegypti biomass from the food chain if it's successful, but that is the objective, not a side effect. Consider the alternatives, however. Aedes is largely resistant to most insecticides, so chemical control would likely be especially toxic and would certainly impact non-target species. This particular approach is 100% target specific, with no non-target effects of any consequence. It has no toxicity at all. Lower Aedes biomass will simply be made up with other resources in most cases. There are no predators that are exclusively dependent upon one species of mosquitoes. Depending upon when the progeny die, there might be some reduced water filtration in some isolated instances, but most people who let water accumulate in containers probably don't care much about how well filtered it is anyway.