They ruin our summer evenings. Worse, they are responsible for spreading sometimes serious diseases. Mosquitoes. Why not eradicate them permanently? Because they have a role to play in nature. Here’s what it is.
What could be more unbearable than a mosquito buzzing in our ears in the middle of a summer night? The mosquito bite that just won’t stop itching? Hard to say. But one thing is almost certain. No one likes mosquitoes. Especially since the infernal insect is also a vector of diseases. The tiger mosquito, for example, can transmit the Zika virus, dengue, or chikungunya. Millions of people are affected each year worldwide. And more and more in the context of climate change and the intensification of commercial and tourist exchanges.
So, some scientists have embarked on a somewhat crazy race. They hope to modify the genetics of disease-carrying mosquitoes – of more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes, only about 200 bite humans – to sterilize the males. Objective: to deplete the species. Over 20 years ago, a biologist estimated that eradicating 30 types of mosquitoes would save the lives of a million people worldwide. All without too much harm to the genetic diversity of mosquitoes.
The Role of Mosquitoes in Ecosystems
The problem is that mosquitoes also have a role to play in our environment. First, because they themselves or their larvae are the food for many other animals. From birds to amphibians, bats, dragonflies, spiders, or fish. It’s quite important.
What is probably less known is that mosquitoes are also pollinators. They mainly feed on flower nectar. Their role in the ecosystem is probably not as important as that of bees or butterflies. Researchers have not really studied the issue, but they do know that in arctic regions, mosquitoes are particularly valuable for the survival of certain plants.
Furthermore, mosquito larvae consume microorganisms found in water and residues from other insects. They contribute to the biomass, carbon, and nitrogen cycles. Some larvae can even help filter water and prevent eutrophication, which could lead to harmful proliferation of aquatic plants.
An environment with or without mosquitoes?
However, mosquitoes are not the only ones playing these roles. Scientists believe that their disappearance would likely make room for other insects. Since no predator relies exclusively on mosquitoes, caution is advised as there is currently no serious study on the real impact of mosquito extinction on an ecosystem.
To avoid the risk of causing an imbalance with potential unknown consequences, it is probably better to find ways to protect ourselves from mosquitoes rather than try to eliminate them. Simple recommendations include limiting standing water where females lay eggs (it is the fertilized females that bite) and making your garden attractive to mosquito predators by installing bird or bat houses.