From the studies I’ve seen, mosquitoes are a portion of the diet of many species, but not a portion that would be missed if the mosquitoes were to all vanish. They provide no unique or essential nutrient. The percentage of the diet they make up for those who eat them is negligible.
This is as close to the Wonders of Nature as I’ve gotten since my stint as a ghost artist on a venerable old outdoorsy comic strip ended. Yesterday, my last Sunday cartoon for it ran… I wish it had been a cartoon about mosquitoes. It could have been, if only I’d known…
if humans are supposed to be at the top of the food chain, yet we get malaria, dengue, west nile, etc from mosquitoes which can kill humans. then the bats eat the mosquitoes and can carry rabies and possibly ebola which kills humans. this food chain thing has some weak links.
Many measures have been tried for mosquito control, including the elimination of breeding places, exclusion via window screens and mosquito nets, biological control with parasites such as fungi and nematodes, or predators such as fish, copepods, dragonfly nymphs and adults, and some species of lizard and gecko. Another approach is to introduce large numbers of sterile males. Genetic methods including cytoplasmic incompatibility, chromosomal translocations, sex distortion and gene replacement have been explored. They[vague] are cheaper[vague] and not subject to vector resistance.
According to an article in Nature discussing the idea of totally eradicating mosquitoes, “Ultimately, there seem to be few things that mosquitoes do that other organisms can’t do just as well — except perhaps for one. They are lethally efficient at sucking blood from one individual and mainlining it into another, providing an ideal route for the spread of pathogenic microbes.” The control of disease-carrying mosquitoes may in the future be possible using gene drives.
I’d like to laugh at that comment – but it’s part of the overall problem with our environment. People don’t realize that you can’t just remove one piece without affecting others.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 4 years ago
They exist to feed bats.
Doctor Toon over 4 years ago
Bat guano is useful, too
Makes good fertilizer
Qiset over 4 years ago
For some reason, they don’t bite me. I spend most of my time outside too. My wife and daughter can be outside for five minutes and get a dozen bites.
tcumming over 4 years ago
What would Mesquite do without a mascot ? https://www.prepgridiron.com/topic/16981-mesquite-skeeters-one-of-my-favorite-texas-mascots/
Michael G. over 4 years ago
A batty idea, Attenborough!
ibid Premium Member over 4 years ago
From the studies I’ve seen, mosquitoes are a portion of the diet of many species, but not a portion that would be missed if the mosquitoes were to all vanish. They provide no unique or essential nutrient. The percentage of the diet they make up for those who eat them is negligible.
gregcartoon Premium Member over 4 years ago
This is as close to the Wonders of Nature as I’ve gotten since my stint as a ghost artist on a venerable old outdoorsy comic strip ended. Yesterday, my last Sunday cartoon for it ran… I wish it had been a cartoon about mosquitoes. It could have been, if only I’d known…
car2ner over 4 years ago
In His wisdom God made the fly and then forgot to tell us why ___ by Ogden Nash
mi_sbs over 4 years ago
if humans are supposed to be at the top of the food chain, yet we get malaria, dengue, west nile, etc from mosquitoes which can kill humans. then the bats eat the mosquitoes and can carry rabies and possibly ebola which kills humans. this food chain thing has some weak links.
Yakety Sax over 4 years ago
Many measures have been tried for mosquito control, including the elimination of breeding places, exclusion via window screens and mosquito nets, biological control with parasites such as fungi and nematodes, or predators such as fish, copepods, dragonfly nymphs and adults, and some species of lizard and gecko. Another approach is to introduce large numbers of sterile males. Genetic methods including cytoplasmic incompatibility, chromosomal translocations, sex distortion and gene replacement have been explored. They[vague] are cheaper[vague] and not subject to vector resistance.
According to an article in Nature discussing the idea of totally eradicating mosquitoes, “Ultimately, there seem to be few things that mosquitoes do that other organisms can’t do just as well — except perhaps for one. They are lethally efficient at sucking blood from one individual and mainlining it into another, providing an ideal route for the spread of pathogenic microbes.” The control of disease-carrying mosquitoes may in the future be possible using gene drives.
I’mStandingRightHere over 4 years ago
I’d like to laugh at that comment – but it’s part of the overall problem with our environment. People don’t realize that you can’t just remove one piece without affecting others.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089JY6Y8D?pf_rd_r=EG44TW0XR2TAQHX4T2B6&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee