3 ms·
I am no fan of mosquitoes personally, but pollination is the key thing. Esp. now with the shortage of bees. There may not seem like a direct link to humans. Wi
by tmsh 16y ago
I am no fan of mosquitoes personally, but pollination is the key thing. Esp. now with the shortage of bees. There may not seem like a direct link to humans.
Without mosquitoes, thousands of plant species would lose a group of pollinators. Adults depend on nectar for energy (only females of some species need a meal of blood to get the proteins necessary to lay eggs). Yet McAllister says that their pollination isn't crucial for crops on which humans depend.
But mess with one part of the ecosystem and risks that it will affect things globally go way up. I'm surprised Nature isn't more circumspect about this..
- Tichy 16y agoMaybe genetic engineers could come up with another pollinator, sans the blood lust :-)
- jimfl 16y agoFrom my experience, there is no shortage of bees-- only honey bees, which are cultivated as agricultural pollinators and inbred so as to, apparently be less resistant to disease and parasites. In my garden last year, no honey bees, but 3 other species of bees all over the lavender, Rosemary, and other flowers. This year, the honey bees are back, mostly on the borage, which they love.