Do Mosquitoes Help Anything?
WouterOften referred to as the most “disease-carrying” creature on earth, the mosquito is often considered an unwanted nuisance. However, it’s important to remember that mosquitoes actually serve a critical role in the ecosystem. In fact, some species are even important food sources for other animals.
Mosquitoes are also pollinators, which means they carry pollen from blossom to blossom. Without them, some plants might be left without the pollen they need to thrive. In addition, many parasites rely on mosquitoes as a courier service.
Mosquitoes are also food for fish and insect predators, including lizards. This can have a dramatic impact on an ecosystem. They can also serve as a source of pathogenic microbes that cause illnesses. In the Arctic, dense swarms of mosquitoes can choke caribou herds.
Unlike bees, mosquitoes do not gather pollen. Adult mosquitoes fly from flower to flower to feed. They are also a food source for bats, small mammals, spiders, and other insects.
Mosquitoes can also carry pathogens and diseases, including malaria and West Nile virus. These diseases can be life-threatening. Over one million people die each year from mosquito-borne diseases, and many more are infected with them.
Many people would like to see mosquitoes eradicated. But what would happen if we suddenly did away with them? Would it hurt the ecosystem? And if so, what would we do to prevent it?
Some biologists believe that if the mosquito population is drastically reduced, the ecosystem would be negatively affected. Other species would fill the gap.
