Mosquitos Are Friends, We're Not Always Food
The ecosystem is a complex
web of biodiversity. There are many insects that we, as humans, understand
their important roles in this web. However, there is also a wide variety of
insects with negative reputations. One of them is the common mosquito in the order Diptera and the family Culicidae, which includes over 3,500 species. The Culicidae family is comprised of two main
subfamilies: Anophelinae and Culicinae. Found almost everywhere and known as
the deadliest insect on earth due to their role in disease transmission, mosquitos
surprisingly contribute heavily to maintaining balance within an ecosystem by playing
an essential part in the nutrient cycle. They are also acclaimed by entomologists
as good indicators of the overall health of an ecosystem. This blog aims to challenge the stigmas placed on the common mosquito while we dig deeper into
why mosquitoes aren't as bad as we think.
Let's get the basics out of the way. Mosquitoes go through four stages in their lives. Culicinae lay their eggs in any stagnant water. This includes pools, ponds, stormwater basins, river edges, etc. In this blog, we will primarily focus on freshwater ponds. As the eggs hatch in these ponds, the larvae float with a tube on their abdomen floating up to the surface, breathing air. Dangling like icicles in the water, the larvae begin to filter feed. Mosquito larvae thrive on organic matter in stagnant water, effectively breaking down dead plant material and other organic waste before moulting several times, becoming larger to attack any bacteria, protists, and rotifera they encounter with each moult. Mosquitoes will then pupate, floating to the top of the water and emerge as adult mosquitos. Although seemingly short-lived for the two weeks it takes to emerge as an adult, female mosquitos can lay up to 300 eggs. With hundreds of mosquitos spawning together, this little insect greatly impacts pond water's clarity and overall health. For instance, they help control the growth of algae, which can lead to oxygen depletion in the water and help prevent algae blooms. This process is crucial for cleaning ponds and allows for a healthy spot for freshwater animals to thrive within them.
In the introduction paragraph of the scientific report, “The larval environment strongly influences the bacterial communities of Aedes triseriatus and Ades japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae),” it states, “Many of these habitats are fueled by organic detritus which provides a substrate for bacterial growth that is consumed by mosquito larvae and other macroinvertebrate consumers.” This quote highlights the ecological role that mosquito larvae hold as they contribute to the natural cleaning process of stagnant water. As the larvae consume bacteria, they indirectly help reduce the amount of waste and bacterial biomass, promoting a healthier aquatic environment and supporting water clarity and quality. Therefore, mosquito larvae play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and cleanliness of pond ecosystems.
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Mosquitoes, despite their
negative reputation, are surprisingly sensitive to environmental changes.
Different mosquito species have specific habitat preferences and water quality
requirements, making their presence or absence a valuable tool for measuring
ecological changes. Monitoring the diversity and abundance of mosquito
populations can provide crucial insights into the health of aquatic habitats
and the broader ecosystem. By studying mosquito populations, entomologists and
other scientists gain important information about the integrity of habitats and
the impact of environmental changes within an ecosystem. The World Health
Organization's scientific report recognizes this and states, “Adult mosquito
sampling can provide valuable data for studies of seasonal population trends or
evaluation of adulticiding measures.” This highlights the essential role of
mosquito populations as bioindicators, providing scientists with insights into
the environmental health and ecological impacts on the environment. Therefore,
mosquitoes are not just pests but also essential bioindicators, reflecting an
ecosystem's conditions and overall health.
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Source
Juma, Elijah O., Brian F. Allan,
Chang-Hyun Kim, Christopher Stone, Christopher Dunlap, and Ephantus J. Muturi.
2021. “The Larval Environment Strongly Influences the Bacterial Communities of
Aedes Triseriatus and Aedes Japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae).” Scientific
Reports 11 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-87017-0.
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