The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator (Timothy Winegard) - a podcast by Rob Mellon

Historian and New York Times and LA Times Best Selling author Timothy Wingard explains the massive impact the mosquito has had on human history.  He begins with an overview of why certain mosquitos are so dangerous and details the specifics of how the insect draws blood.  He then goes into the historical impact of the mosquito from the Ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire and even to on the spread of Christianity.  Winegard explains how the mosquito even tamed the mighty Mongol hordes.  He continues with the effects the mosquitoes had on the Columbian Exchange and the massive expansion of African slavery in the Americas.  The mosquito has also impacted the British Empire and helped give birth to America with some help from George Washington the the other founders.  He explains how the insect at first benefited the Confederacy during the Civil War, but during the last few years of the war was an advantage for the North.  He finishes the discussion with the impact the mosquito had on WWII and how the overuse of DDT led to the insect adapting to make the pesticide obsolete.

HOST:  Rob Mellon

FEATURED BREW:  Vicious Mosquito IPA, Sunriver Brewing Company, Sunriver, Oregon

BOOK:  The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator
https://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-Human-History-Deadliest-Predator/dp/1524743429/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10Q322X4R9QZW&dchild=1&keywords=the+mosquito&qid=1613523562&s=books&sprefix=the+mosqui%2Cstripbooks%2C172&sr=1-1

MUSIC:  Bones Fork

Further episodes of History Ago Go

Further podcasts by Rob Mellon

Website of Rob Mellon