4 ms·

Wow! Learned something new today. I've been misinformed into believe that mosquitoes are useless, and we should wipe them out.

wiseowise 3y ago
They are useless and harmful, there are far better pollinators than mosquitos.
- deafpolygon 3y ago
  They are part of the ecosystem and are efficient pollinators. Without mosquito larvae, for example, aquatic animals such as tadpoles and such would have less to eat.
  - Maursault 3y ago
    There are 3500 species of mosquito, of which only about 200 bite humans. If we eliminated biting mosquitos, tad poles and such will still have plenty of non-biting mosquito larvae to eat. And compared to bees and moths, mosquitos are not nearly as efficient pollinators. If all biting mosquito species suddenly vanished, the effect on ecosystems would be negligible, and it would stop them from killing a million people a year. The benefits would far, far outweigh the risks.
    - deafpolygon 3y ago
      Only ~90 is known to transmit disease. I'm all for eradicating the diseases, but not really a fan of wiping out entire mosquito species. Eliminating biting mosquitos may have a knock-on effect... possible unforeseen effects that may adversely affect entire ecosystems. There may be certain species that have evolved to hunt/feed on specific mosquitos, and in turn, other species that rely on these. When they are displaced because of this, it's possible that the checks and constraints on certain species will be reduced. They may not be efficient pollinators per insect, but they may yet pollinate certain types of plants in certain locations that no other species do efficiently due to sheer numbers.
      - Maursault 3y ago
        We've strayed from the topic of bug zappers, which people foolishly install to control mosquitos having no effect, instead killing moths by the generation. If anyone comes up with a viable plan to extinct an entire species of biting mosquito, we can revisit. But at this point, your concern simply isn't credible.
- soperj 3y ago
  There are certain species that are only pollinated by mosquitoes. Orchids for example.
  - Maursault 3y ago
    Orchids are not only pollinated by mosquitos. While there are some orchids that have a single insect species pollinator, this is not the case with the orchid that mosquitos pollinate, the blunt-leaved orchid, which is also pollinated by other insects.[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanthera_obtusata https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanthera_obtusata
sitkack 3y ago
They also move nutrients down the food chain. The larvae and the mosquitoes they produce feed lots of birds and other insects.
- scns 3y ago
  Up the foodchain, sorry for beeing a pedant.
  - MayeulC 3y ago
    Unless the parent was explicitly referring to the nutrients that they get from us, at the top.
  - soperj 3y ago
    as my vector algebra teacher always said... up, down, same thing.
  - cryptonector 3y ago
    From a mosquito's pov it might be down the foodchain.

wiseowise 3y ago

They are useless and harmful, there are far better pollinators than mosquitos.

deafpolygon 3y ago
They are part of the ecosystem and are efficient pollinators. Without mosquito larvae, for example, aquatic animals such as tadpoles and such would have less to eat.
- Maursault 3y ago
  There are 3500 species of mosquito, of which only about 200 bite humans. If we eliminated biting mosquitos, tad poles and such will still have plenty of non-biting mosquito larvae to eat. And compared to bees and moths, mosquitos are not nearly as efficient pollinators. If all biting mosquito species suddenly vanished, the effect on ecosystems would be negligible, and it would stop them from killing a million people a year. The benefits would far, far outweigh the risks.
  - deafpolygon 3y ago
    Only ~90 is known to transmit disease. I'm all for eradicating the diseases, but not really a fan of wiping out entire mosquito species. Eliminating biting mosquitos may have a knock-on effect... possible unforeseen effects that may adversely affect entire ecosystems. There may be certain species that have evolved to hunt/feed on specific mosquitos, and in turn, other species that rely on these. When they are displaced because of this, it's possible that the checks and constraints on certain species will be reduced. They may not be efficient pollinators per insect, but they may yet pollinate certain types of plants in certain locations that no other species do efficiently due to sheer numbers.
    - Maursault 3y ago
      We've strayed from the topic of bug zappers, which people foolishly install to control mosquitos having no effect, instead killing moths by the generation. If anyone comes up with a viable plan to extinct an entire species of biting mosquito, we can revisit. But at this point, your concern simply isn't credible.
soperj 3y ago
There are certain species that are only pollinated by mosquitoes. Orchids for example.
- Maursault 3y ago
  Orchids are not only pollinated by mosquitos. While there are some orchids that have a single insect species pollinator, this is not the case with the orchid that mosquitos pollinate, the blunt-leaved orchid, which is also pollinated by other insects.[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanthera_obtusata https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanthera_obtusata

sitkack 3y ago

They also move nutrients down the food chain. The larvae and the mosquitoes they produce feed lots of birds and other insects.

scns 3y ago
Up the foodchain, sorry for beeing a pedant.
- MayeulC 3y ago
  Unless the parent was explicitly referring to the nutrients that they get from us, at the top.
- soperj 3y ago
  as my vector algebra teacher always said... up, down, same thing.
- cryptonector 3y ago
  From a mosquito's pov it might be down the foodchain.