What Mosquitoes Do For the Environment
WouterDespite their bad reputation, mosquitoes actually do quite a few things for the environment. They are important disease-carrying parasites, they help pollinate plants, they provide food for other animals, and they protect the rainforests.
There are thousands of mosquito species across the globe. Mosquitoes have been around for over 100 million years. In subarctic regions, mosquitoes are an important factor in plant pollination.
They are also important food sources for fish and other animals. They are also a source of nutrients for other plants. Without mosquitoes, plants would not have sufficient nutrients to thrive.
They also provide a means of communication between plants. The male mosquito collects pollen from one flower and transfers it to another. These small insects can be found in every continent but Antarctica.
There are two main types of mosquitoes – adult mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. Adult mosquitoes are flightless insects that feed on nectar and blood. The larvae are aquatic insects that live in shallow, still pools of water. The larvae eat microscopic organic matter in water and recycle it into nutrients for the plants. They are also food for dragonflies and amphibians.
They also help to keep animals away from plants. They have been thinning animal populations for millions of years. Without mosquitoes, many animals would change their diets to other insects. This could cause collateral damage to ecosystems.
They are also a reliable source of food for thousands of animals. In some regions, mosquitoes make up the majority of insect biomass.
