How Do Mosquitoes Help the World?

Despite their annoyance, mosquitoes play a significant role in the ecosystem. They are an important food source for many species, such as birds and fishes, and they also act as pollinators. In fact, the number of named mosquito species has reached more than 3,500.

Mosquitoes have lived on Earth for more than 100 million years. They have co-evolved with thousands of other species. They serve a vital purpose, and many people owe them a debt of gratitude.

Insect-eating animals such as lizards, frogs, bats, and hummingbirds rely on mosquitoes as a source of food. Some species are completely dependent on them, while others prefer to eat other insects instead.

Most mosquito species leave humans alone, but there are some predatory mosquitoes. These special-purpose predators eat other mosquito species. They are not common in Australia. However, they are a major food source for migratory birds in the Arctic.

Female mosquitoes need blood to develop eggs and feed on other animals to provide protein for their own needs. Male mosquitoes eat nectar and fit into the ecosystem as a food source for many other animals.

In addition to being an important food source, mosquitoes also help the ecosystem by fertilizing plants. They are pollinators for some flowering plants, including orchids. They transfer pollen from flower to flower, a key function when bees are under attack.

They also carry pathogens and diseases that affect humans. Some mosquito-borne diseases are very dangerous and can kill hundreds of thousands of people a year. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is known to spread malaria, yellow fever, and Zika in recent years.

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