Galapagos Island wildlife threatened by traveling mosquitoes

In preparing for trips to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, we tourists may cart in with us more than we mean to. Disease-carrying mosquitoes, which may have devastating effects on the islands’ unique wildlife, have been increasingly found on airplanes and boats to the destination. And these little guys, called southern house mosquitoes, are island hoppers.

Why should we be concerned? Scientists are afraid that their spread “could have the same devastating effect in the Galapagos as in Hawaii during the late 19th century, when disease wiped out many indigenous birds,” reported Reuters. “The mosquito was first spotted in the Galapagos in the mid-1980s, but its presence then was considered a one-off.”

Research has shown that once the mosquitoes reach the islands, they can breed and island hop, and, with more and more boats and planes making their way to the popular tourist destination, this is a real worry.

According to a New Scientist report, “Goodman and his colleagues found 74 live insects after searching the holds of 93 aircraft landing on Baltra Island in the Galapagos. Of these, six were Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, which transmit WNV [West Nile Virus] and the parasite that causes bird malaria. Two more were caught in aircraft that landed on nearby San Cristobal.”

Galapagos finches could be among the first victims of the mosquitoes. Other animals that may be in danger include the Galapagos giant tortoise and marine iguana. And birds such as the red-footed booby, flightless cormorant and the waved albatross may also be vulnerable, according to the researchers.

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Photo: Peek-a-boo: A red-footed booby chick in its nest on Genovesa in the Galapagos; Credit: Steve Stroud / Los Angeles Times

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 5:26 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under Eco-Travel, Islands & Beaches, Latin America & Caribbean, News, Tips & Advice, Outdoors & Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.