The only trouble with even engineering such prevention is that it would be necessary first to manipulate some malaria mosquitoes (Anopheles) to have such an immune system (rocket science at best at the present time). Vaccinating mosquitoes? And then the little matter of breeding and replacing all malaria-carrying mosquitoes worldwide with them. If we could replace whole populations of mosquitoes in the wild like that, we would have eradicated malaria long ago!

Malaria is caused by a single-celled microscopic animal, Plasmodium, with an incredibly complex life cycle. A small part of this life cycle takes place in the mosquito. Bedbug females are, after their rape, threatened mainly by bacteria and fungi, very simple organisms by comparison with Plasmodium. Of course any information the research can provide is interesting, but it has all been hyped and connected just a little too much here.

Further, the article promotes the myth that “bedbugs live in insanitary spaces”, “often crawling through faeces” which to the uninitiated reader suggests that human faeces are meant. Related articles also go on about them being “confined to insanitary spaces”. Considering the other factual details which are reasonably accurate, I suspect a bee-bonneted editor lurking in the background insisting on inserting rubbish into these articles. The research is interesting but The Times journalists should be more competent and informed.

Awesome mugshots of our foe though. The photographers are the real heroes of this article.