How Much Do Mosquitoes Pollinate Plants?

Despite the widespread presence of mosquitoes, we don’t often think about them as pollinators. But they are an important part of the ecosystem. They consume plant sugar and nutrients, recycle those nutrients back into the ecosystem, and serve as food for many different creatures. They are also essential in aquatic food chains.

Adult mosquitoes do not collect pollen like bees do. They travel from flower to flower, and then feed on the nectar. They do not gather blood from their host, but instead rely on a keen sense of smell to locate and collect the nectar.

They are considered a pollinator for some species of plants. However, there have been few published studies to document their contribution to the pollination process. Some species of orchids, such as the blunt-leaf bog orchid, are pollinated by mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes have been around for millions of years. The oldest known blood-fed mosquito was found preserved in amber 90 to 100 million years ago. They are present in a wide range of habitats, and have co-evolved with diverse plants and animals.

The role of mosquitoes as pollinators may be even more widespread than we’ve thought. They have also been shown to be effective at pollinating a handful of flowering plants.

Scientists recently discovered that certain odour constituents of flowers are shared between humans and mosquitoes. Their study could lead to more effective repellents. It also provides knowledge about neural circuits that regulate mosquito olfaction. This information could be used to develop more efficient traps and better repellents.

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