Do mosquitos serve a purpose?

Question

Do mosquitos do anything valuable or are they just annoying bugs that we wouldn't miss? Please include links.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Of course they do. Believe it or not, and as annoying as some creatures can be, everything in this world... both plant and animal serve a very valuable purpose. It all goes back to the food chain and when you take something out be it a producer, consumer or decomposer the chain will collapse and life will die.

In the case of mosquitos there are many animals, mainly bats that rely on them greatly for food. Some species of bats can eat over 500 of them an hour. One could argue then why not take out mosquitos and bats, bats as well serve just as important of a role if not more so than mosquitos. Some even help to pollenate plants just as bees and some birds do.

Aside from bats many aquatic species that also rely on them for a food source due to the fact that mosquitos are laid, hatched and semi-raised in water.

As tiny as they might be they also pollenate some plants.

Nonetheless when push comes to shove they might be annoying but we would miss them greatly due to the amount of food chains that would collapse and species of plant and animal that would be forced into extinction.

If you are bothered by them in your area there are several things you can do. Make sure you have no standing water around in buckets, pools, trash, etc. Not only is it a dangerous place that can harbor disease but it is the perfect environment for mosquitos to lay eggs and for the little ones to grow up. You can also build bat boxes if you live in a wooded area. The boxes will draw in bats (duh) and the bats will feed off of the mosquitos and other pests in the area. And do not worry about rabies with bats, they can carry them but out of the billions of bats that live on this planet less than 1% is a carrier.

If you have other questions please feel free to ask.

Here are some links on mosquitos:
http://www.mosquito.org/
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/mosb…

Here is a nice source on bats:
http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

Help on how to build a bat box:
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protectio…

Source(s):

work at a zoo with three species of bats, took a ton of entomology in college

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitos

Bats eat them. If no mosquitos no bats. No bats no vegetation. Bat fertilizer is good stuff.

Answer 3

yes they get eaten by spiders

Answer 4

Yes, they do, but the purpose they serve is not a positive one.

They spread disease and death.

My deceased wife contracted viral encephalitis from a Tiger mosquito bite, and had a seizure disorder for 30+ years as a direct result of actually beating the 30% survival odds.

EDITED TO ADD INFO---- OK Thumbs Downers.. explain to the asker here how malaria, West Nile Virus, meningitis and even the plague in some cases------- is spread.. The Tooth Fairy??


I REALLY find this question in VERY poor taste.

Answer 5

I think everything on Earth serves a purpose, even if they are pests. They are mainly harmful to humans, but for other animals they are helpful. Frogs and fish eat them. They are also important for pollination.

Source(s):

http://www.helium.com/items/255033-what-…

Answer 6

It seems that the only purpose they serve is as an appetizer for every other living creature. And its those other creatures who help out.

Answer 7

As much as I hate the little buggers, I have to admit that they do indeed have a reason to exist. They feed many birds and bats, as well as other insects.

Answer 8

They may serve a purpose, but sense I'm allergic to them I wish they didn't exist.

Answer 9

yep they're just part of the food chain keeping the animal above them alive

Answer 10

Every organism serves a purpose.

Just like cows produce milk and meat.
And like bees produce flowers and honey.

Mosquitos are food for spiders, bats, dragonflies, and larger bugs. They also feed birds, fish, frogs, and even some large animals like certain types of monkeys. These are the animals that give us what we need.

So if mosquitos didn't exist, all the animals who eat them would have nothing, or very little, to eat. Which would mean that their population would probably decrease. So if the spider population decreased, then other bugs who didn't eat mosquitos would increase. We would have more bees, wasps, hornets, "horse" flies, but we would have less dragonflies; the natural predator of the mosquito. ANd think of all those doctors that work in the area of viruses that are spread by mosquitos? What if mosquitos didn't exist, so fish would have less to eat, combined with the decrease in fish popuklation due to the fishery business, then people in the fishery would be put straight out of business!

And so on.

Mosquitos also spread viruses. And they help control human population with viruses they spread.

Bad?

No. These viruses are bad when they kill people, but, if a mosquito didn't spread a virus to a person, then that person wouldn't have to be treated, so doctors that cure insect sicknesses would be out of the job, causing a possible "crack" in economy.

So, just think. If one little, annoying, pestering species of insect didn't exist, the whole world could go into a spiral. Just like if cows, chickens, or fish didn't exist.

And besides, we'd be less active if we weren't swatting at the little buggers constantly!

Looks like God did it right.

Nice question!

Want links to more mosquito information? Here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito#Mo…

http://www.nobite.ca/index_e.php

http://www.tinymosquito.com/

http://www.thaibugs.com/Articles/amazing…

http://www.control-mosquitoes.com/



EDIT-THUMBS DOWN?- Was I given some thumbs down out of hatred for having a nice looking answer, or because of me mentioning God? I am terribly sorry if you thrive in a religion where God goes by a different name, or doesn't exist. It is just in my religion (Christianity) that I beleive he does exist, and brings all right to the world, and tries to rid of all that is wrong. But if I was given these by hatred, for having a good-looking answer, then thats just childish.

But I do respect everyone's religion, and even more if they respect mine.

Answer 11

Mosqutioes are a food source for many creatures including bats, birds, lizards, frogs, fish, etc.

Answer 12

They are a food source to many insects and birds, and they provide population control by spreading disease. In the cruel world of nature, that is actually a service.

Answer 13

As many others already pointed out,
mosquitoes play a valuable part in the food chain of higher living organisms...

The thing that really makes certain life forms dangerous pests are *not* them, as they were made. Rather, it is the horrible unbalance in our entire environment. 'NunyaBidNess' brought out how many diseases are carried by mosquitoes. But, they don't originate with them. Instead, they are picked up from elsewhere... Animals , birds, & insects, pick up various disease & parasitic organisms from our vastly unbalanced ecosystem. They didn't make it that way... If everyone had remained spiritually in balance --the way first created-- there would be no such imbalance, no such sickness, suffering , or death... WIllful disobedience is the true culprit here, & those who choose to follow its destructive path!...

Pollution stems from greed, & damaged ecosystems are prime areas for harmful germs to breed, without anything natural around that can stop them...

Just think about it...
Is the current human race any less a pestilence* than mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, etc...?
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20030522/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19990522a/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19960222/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20031022/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20031122a/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19981222/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/19981222/
*(pestilence = a pernicious evil** influence)
**(evil = the quality of being morally wrong in principle or practice)

Consider:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20070415/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20040101/
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20010515/

The only difference is the hate involved in man's practices,
& that they don't suck the blood with their lips!
Mankind truly does greedily prey upon all of God's creation!

Fortunately, God has plans to remedy the entire situation!:

"But the nations became wrathful, and your own wrath came, and the appointed time... to *bring to ruin those ruining the earth*.” --Revelation 11:18 (:

Source(s):

Onelook Online Dictionary;
Reasoning on the Scriptures, their principles, & the facts.
http://watchtower.co.uk/bible/index.htm

Answer 14

Every animal --- even those that bite you and make you itch! --- is an important part of the ecosystem. If you were to suddenly eliminate them, there would be changes on many other levels.

Answer 15

No , they give us West Nile virus.

Answer 16

no

Answer 17

They are part of the food chain for small fish and amphibians.
�Like bees, mosquitoes are a fairly important pollinator of flowers and fruits.�
And they make wonderful bite-size snacks for �. . . anything that can catch them.� That would include birds, spiders and everybody's favorite, bats.
In their worm-like larvae stage, mosquitoes are eaten by fish and frogs and other aquatic life.
*****
Mosquitoes are one insect we humans can certainly live without. They're a source of food for bats, frogs and birds, so they do serve some purpose. But, other than stinging us, sucking our blood and leaving us with red, itchy welts, mosquitoes are just an annoyance to us. (Not to mention the fact that mosquitoes carry diseases such as the dreaded West Nile Virus.)

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Answer 18

As everyone has said, I'm sure the little twits serve a valuable ecological purpose, however, if they'd just do it somewhere other than where I am I'd be grateful.

Answer 19

they get eaten by spiders..
there not annoying, but having a mosquito bite is not fun to have.

Answer 20

Mosquitos give the citronella candle makers a reason to exist. :P

Answer 21

every organism on this earth serves a purpose...
mosquitos are food to other organisms...

Answer 22

Mosquitoes suck our blood and leave a huge red spot that itches non-stop we'll get mad and hate them. However, every organism that God created has a great purpose and that's why has existence. Mosquitoes feed on us but are also fed by other insects. Without the mosquitoes, who would support the other insects and provide them a source of food? Believe it or not, mosquitoes keep our environment stable and have an important niche in our ecosystem so they do have a purpose. :)

Answer 23

mosquitos are a reminder to all of us.. mosquitos live in stagnant water right? and if you see a mosquito around, you want them gone. so, you go around your house removing water and those dirt in your house.. they also serve as food to other animals.

Answer 24

Yes it's called annoying the hell out of us.

Answer 25

Yes... It's the circle of life :)

They provide food for other animals while gaining nutrients from us, humans, and our blood. Even though they might be a nuisance at times, they are beneficial to not only the environment, but also to other animals in need of food as well :)

http://www.howstuffworks.com/mosquito.ht…

Also, they maintain balance in the ecosystem by giving frogs and other insects a "dinner" and a means to survive. In some instances, though, mosquitos will carry viruses or bacteria that can be harmful to humans.

So yes, they do benefit the Earth and help it remain stable and they contribute to the "circle of life" by providing food for other animals, but "no" because they can be (yes...) annoying and harmful to our health.

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/200…

Hope this helps!