Do Mosquitoes Have a Purpose?

Do Mosquitoes Have a Purpose?

Out of all of the common pests, mosquitoes appear to be the most useless and annoying to the average person. We have to deal with the red itchy bites that they leave behind, some people more often than others. And it seems like they only appear in the summer, bite to drink our blood, and then die off until the next summer. The existence of these pests begs the question: do mosquitoes have a greater purpose?

Food Chain

One of the largest benefits of the existence of mosquitoes is their place on the natural food chain. Every creature is somewhere on the food chain, the order of “what eats what” in nature. Mosquitoes are on this chain, just like any other insect, with creatures above and below them. They are a reliable source of biomass for larger insects and animals, especially ones that live near the water like mosquitoes do. They are food for fish, birds, dragonflies, spiders, hummingbirds, bats, and frogs, among other water-dwelling creatures. Mosquitoes are found on every continent except for Antarctica, which means that any animals and insects that eat mosquitoes can count on their abundance. 

Mosquitoes lay their eggs on water banks, so many aquatic animals live on mosquito larvae. Fish and dragonfly larvae in particular love the young mosquitoes. Warmer waters mean more mosquitoes, so regions with naturally warmer climates often experience a higher mosquito population. On the other side of the food chain, mosquito larvae eat organic matter on the banks of rivers and lakes, and the recycled nutrients that they produce help to keep the ecosystem thriving in that area.

Mosquitoes are also important environmentalists, even though they don’t know it. They defend rainforests by making it unlivable for humans due to the dense mosquito population. The humidity and organic material found in rainforests are irresistible to mosquitoes, so that is why rainforests are so mosquito-heavy. Considering there are around 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world, it’s no wonder they never seem to leave us alone. But in addition to being a food source for other creatures and recycling organic matter, mosquitoes also benefit the ecosystem of plants and flowers.

Pollination Nation

Many people don’t know that mosquitoes are pollinators, just like bees and butterflies! This is arguably the most important function of mosquitoes, and greatly helps to answer the question posed above. It may be surprising to learn that a mosquito’s main food source is actually nectar, not blood. In fact, male mosquitoes only eat nectar, so the culprits of our irritated bites are female mosquitoes. While they do not manufacture honey or pollinate nearly as much as the other pollinating insects, mosquitoes still greatly help plants in the wild and in our yards. Mosquitoes fertilize plants as they go, keeping the greenery healthy and growing. But not many plants and animals depend solely on mosquitoes, so it is not a big deal that they don’t pollinate as much as bees or butterflies. There are some kinds of wild orchids that heavily rely on mosquitoes, so they are valuable in some circles of plant families. 

But since male mosquitoes only eat nectar, it is worth wondering why female mosquitoes seek out warm blood. They do still eat plenty of nectar, but there is something about the blood from mammals that female mosquitoes need. Let’s look at a couple of reasons why we are so appealing to mosquitoes that lay eggs.

Then Why Do They Bite Us?

If mosquitoes love nectar so much, why do they bite us? The simple answer is for the protein content. The blood from warm-blooded mammals provides some much-needed protein for female mosquitoes. They seek out blood during two important stages of their lives: trying to create eggs and after the eggs are laid. These are important stages in the life cycle of mosquitoes, since the health and quantity of the eggs is the determining factor of the survival of the species. The mosquito mothers want to feed their offspring and keep them healthy, which she does by gathering blood from humans and animals to feed her offspring with. But it may be a small comfort to know that out of the over 3000 species of mosquitoes, only a couple hundred of them are known to bite humans and potentially transmit diseases. Most mosquito species only live off of nectar, especially in areas less populated by humans. But for the mosquitoes that do bite us to no end, it can be a concerning thought that there can be diseases or pathogens transmitted through them.

Diseases From Mosquitoes

Arguably the most popular stereotype around mosquitoes is that all of them transmit malaria. Based on our previous look into the nectar-based diet of mosquitoes, it is safe to conclude that this isn’t true. Mosquitoes that have the potential to transmit diseases are the ones that gather blood from mammals. And since not every mammal has a dangerous disease or pathogen in their blood, not every mosquito carries them in their bodies. 

Since not all mosquitoes have a disease, how do the infected ones transmit the diseases to us? It’s a simple process. After a mosquito bites a being infected with a disease or parasite, it replicates in the mosquito’s gut. It then can be injected into the next bitten person or animal through the mosquito’s saliva. So contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not inject infected blood into their victims. This is why diseases transmitted by blood, like HIV and HCV, aren’t transmitted by mosquitoes. 

But the diseases that they do transmit are not to be underestimated. There was a reported over 400,000 deaths from malaria in 2015. This is largely the work of the Anopheles gambiae species, since they are more susceptible to contract malaria for unknown reasons. The aegypti species of mosquitoes is one of the most dangerous because it is likely carrying Zika or yellow fever. This is due to their proximity to regions that are heavy with these diseases. Chikungunya is another frequently-transmitted virus from dangerous mosquitoes. Common symptoms from these diseases include joint and muscle pain, fever, and rash, but not every person infected with these diseases will show symptoms. Most mosquito bites do not contain diseases, so there is no need to panic as soon as you feel an itchy bite. Please seek medical attention if you have been bitten and start experiencing adverse symptoms. 

Mosquito Prevention & Control is Valuable

There are a few different ways you can prevent mosquitoes from ruining your spring and summer with itchy bites. One easy way is to spray yourself with mosquito repellent before spending a lot of time outside. This spray also helps to hold off other pests, so it’s a worthwhile investment. There are many different repellents available at most box stores. The natural pest repellent market is growing, so you can look for more eco-friendly ways to protect yourself. You can also cover your arms and legs if you know you’re spending time on water banks, like if you are fishing or camping. A lightweight long sleeve shirt paired with leggings or light sweatpants should do the trick, but this isn’t always possible in the dead of summer. If you don’t have a screen in a door or window in your home, you may want to keep them closed when the mosquito population is thriving in summer. You can always purchase a mosquito net for your bed if you really want the fresh air.

But as with any common pests, pest control is always a reliable option for taking care of these insects. We will eradicate the mosquito populations plaguing your home without harming the environment, thanks to our EPA-approved products. The warmer months are already tricky with the heat, so take these steps to get rid of mosquitoes and prevent those annoying bites from ruining your spring and summer. 

Citations

Can we just eradicate mosquitoes? (n.d.). Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved on March 30, 2022, from https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/discover-collections/read-watch-play/science/mosquito-facts/why-cant-we-just-eradicate-mosquitoes 

Chikungunya Virus. (n.d.). CDC. Retrieved on March 30, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/ 

Diamond, A. (2019, December). Why do mosquitoes exist? Why do elephants and donkeys represent the G.O.P. and the democrats? And more questions from our readers. Smithsonian Magazine. Available at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/mosquitos-exist-elephants-donkeys-used-represent-gop-democrats-180973517/ (Accessed on March 30, 2022).

Feltman, R. & Kaplan, S. (2016, August 1). Dear science: Why can’t we just get rid of all the mosquitoes? The Washington Post. Available at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/08/01/dear-science-why-cant-we-just-get-rid-of-all-the-mosquitoes/ (Accessed on March 30, 2022).

Mizejewski, D. (2021, April 28). What purpose do mosquitoes serve? National Wildlife Federation. Available at https://blog.nwf.org/2020/09/what-purpose-do-mosquitoes-serve/ (Accessed on March 30, 2022). 

Mosquito Squad. (n.d.). What purpose do mosquitoes serve? Mosquito Squad. Available at https://www.mosquitosquad.com/blog/mosquitoes-facts-more/what-purpose-do-mosquitoes-serve-/ (Accessed on March 30, 2022).

Zika. (n.d.). PAHO. Retrieved on March 30, 2022, from https://www.paho.org/en/topics/zika