4 ms·

I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but are they not a significant source of food for any predator such that their elimination wouldn't be noticed? I'm

by zucked 6y ago

I genuinely don't know the answer to this, but are they not a significant source of food for any predator such that their elimination wouldn't be noticed? I'm reluctant to be playing god on this front, especially in light of the fact that it seems like the insect population is not doing well, globally, and forms the base for a complex food chain.

modmans2nd 6y ago
Bat eat mosquitoes
- pzone 6y ago
  That’s more something bat enthusiasts say to get people to like the critters. In reality insectivorous bats primarily eat larger, easier to catch prey like moths.
- em3rgent0rdr 6y ago
  Given the small size of mosquitoes, restrictions imposed on prey detectability by low frequency echolocation, and variable field metabolic rates, mosquitoes may not be available to or profitable for all bats. [1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/
- Broken_Hippo 6y ago
  Sure, some do. But I don't think any bats eat only mosquitoes. As long as there are enough insects to eat, I think they'll be fine.
tombert 6y ago
Did you not read the parent comment that you're? For decades we have been performing a semi-eradication effort for mosquitoes for decades, and we have not noticed a substantial change that can be considered a result of that. I understand hesitation to muck with nature, but I think it's sort of a privileged position to have when you live in an area where malaria and West Nile are not a serious risk. Malaria kills a lot of Africans every year (400,000+ [0]), and I'm not sure how much hesitation I'd have towards eradication if anyone in my family died from it. [0] https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/ https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/
maxerickson 6y ago
The majority of mosquitoes don't seek out the humans. We attack the mosquitoes that seek out the humans.

by zucked 6y ago

modmans2nd 6y ago

Bat eat mosquitoes

pzone 6y ago
That’s more something bat enthusiasts say to get people to like the critters. In reality insectivorous bats primarily eat larger, easier to catch prey like moths.
em3rgent0rdr 6y ago
Given the small size of mosquitoes, restrictions imposed on prey detectability by low frequency echolocation, and variable field metabolic rates, mosquitoes may not be available to or profitable for all bats. [1] [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3795000/
Broken_Hippo 6y ago
Sure, some do. But I don't think any bats eat only mosquitoes. As long as there are enough insects to eat, I think they'll be fine.

tombert 6y ago

Did you not read the parent comment that you're? For decades we have been performing a semi-eradication effort for mosquitoes for decades, and we have not noticed a substantial change that can be considered a result of that. I understand hesitation to muck with nature, but I think it's sort of a privileged position to have when you live in an area where malaria and West Nile are not a serious risk. Malaria kills a lot of Africans every year (400,000+ [0]), and I'm not sure how much hesitation I'd have towards eradication if anyone in my family died from it. [0] https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/ https://www.who.int/gho/malaria/epidemic/deaths/en/

maxerickson 6y ago

The majority of mosquitoes don't seek out the humans. We attack the mosquitoes that seek out the humans.