>Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance–they can spread harmful diseases such as West Nile virus. In many parts of the United States, local governments use trucks or aircraft to spray pesticides over large areas in an effort to reduce the public health threat posed by mosquitoes. However, the chemicals used to kill these pests can also kill beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, including pollinator species that are critical to all life on the planet. There is no question that mosquitoes present a serious problem, but do the environmental consequences of widespread spraying outweigh its benefits? Click the links below to learn more about this issue.