Mosquitoes Actually Serve A Purpose In This World Other Than Being Pesky Bloodsuckers

Buzz. Buzz.

No, it’s not bees.

I’m here to talk about insect enemy number one, for most of us at least, the mosquitoes.

Being one of the deadliest animals on Earth, these little critters, as annoying as they are, serve an important purpose for our planet.

Aside from killing about 725,000 and infecting millions of people with various diseases per year, mosquitoes are also busy actually helping the planet. And it’s not like all mosquitoes are harmful to people; some species of mosquitoes don’t actually bite humans because they either live in uninhabitable places, live off plants, or they just simply prefer to feed on animals.

The insect of the day is the Elephant mosquito! They’re one of the many species that don’t drink blood. Instead, they feed on saps and juices. Their larvae eat other mosquito larvae! They’ve even been introduced to other areas to fight off dengue fever. Oh yeah, they’re huge! pic.twitter.com/SplPV5TLDF

— Insect of the day (@insect_otd) June 22, 2022

Fun fact: The largest mosquito species (seen above) is also known as the mosquito eater. They don’t partake in human or animal blood, and they have cannibal larvae. Also, they’re movie stars! This species can be seen preserved in amber in Jurassic Park. If we follow facts, Jurassic Park never would have come into existence since Elephant mosquitoes don’t suck blood. But, hey, it’s all fiction anyway, right? This is just a hilarious inaccuracy that various experts have called out.

So how exactly do they help the planet? It’s a topic prone to many tangents, but, ultimately, mosquitoes are essential to our ecosystem.

First and foremost, they are important pollinators. Mosquitoes are found everywhere except for Antartica, and since they also feed on nectars just like their fellow buzzers, mosquitoes are able to go and transfer pollen from flower to flower.

Secondly, they are an important part of the food web. They’re a food source for other winged species as adults, and they’re also prey to predators during their larval stage.

Here’s another fun fact: Ever wondered why there are a lot of mosquitoes in your garden? Male mosquitoes only feed on nectar, and they never bite, while their female counterparts only feed on blood as a source of protein for when they lay eggs.

If you look at the bigger picture, mosquitoes don’t really look that bad actually. But it doesn’t erase the fact that the diseases that they may carry is also deadly. Controlling the mosquito population around your home is essential for your health, but getting rid of them completely might just spell disaster for our planet.

To help deter mosquitoes from your home, click here to check out a list of amazing pesticide alternatives that will surely please your senses!