Goetze: They bite the biters. Our friends, the skeeter-eating critters

The mosquito would surely be close to the top of a list of animals that are disliked by humans.

As vectors of malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever and Zika virus, mosquitos are annually responsible for great human suffering and death across the globe.

Enemy operations

Male mosquitos are nectar feeders and usually only survive from seven to 10 days and adult, and female mosquitos only live from 40 days to a few months. But during this period of time, a female mosquito may produce three to 10 broods of eggs with each brood ranging from 50 to greater than 100 eggs.

Eggs are laid in calm, fresh water and hatch within 24–48 hours. Newly hatched larvae (referred to as wrigglers) develop into adults in approximately two weeks. To reproduce in tremendous numbers, female mosquitos also require blood meals to provide proper nutrients for their eggs and ambient temperatures between 50–90 degrees.

Considering the diseases spread by mosquitos, their global distribution, and the mosquito’s tremendous reproductive potential, you might ask, “Are mosquitos good for anything?”

Biters' niche

To answer that question, let’s examine the ecological role — sometimes called the niche — of mosquitos. Mosquitos are referred to as a boom-and-bust species because they reproduce in high numbers and mature rapidly. Consequently, mosquito populations increase rapidly but will also decline rapidly (or crash).

Two reasons for mosquito declines are abrupt or seasonal weather change (dry conditions and/or colder temperatures), and the mosquito’s ecological niche as a prey species. Mosquitos are near the beginning of natural food chains, and their ecological role as prey is somewhat comparable to plankton and krill in marine ecosystems.

Mosquito munchers abound

The elimination of mosquitos from all global ecosystems would cause disturbances in natural communities, possible extirpation or extinction of other species and likely loss of diversity within the affected communities. Many different animals utilize mosquito eggs, larvae and adults as food.

Thus, these many mosquito eaters also (even if inadvertently) help to naturally reduce the numbers of mosquitos in and around our human neighborhoods. To better appreciate this fact, let’s examine some predators of mosquitos within our area’s communities.

Skeeter destroyers: Damselflies and dragonflies

There are many arthropods which prey upon mosquitos. Some of the most colorful include damselflies and dragonflies. The aquatic nymphs of damselflies and dragonflies consume mosquito eggs and feed upon larval mosquito wrigglers.

Adult damselflies and dragonflies hover around bodies of water and capture adult mosquitos. Each individual dragonfly and damselfly can consume approximately 80–100 mosquitos per day. Other insect predators of mosquitos include larval dobsonflies (called hellgrammites), giant water bugs and robber flies.

Many spiders also capture and consume adult mosquitos. These are only a few examples of arthropods capable of feeding upon large numbers of mosquitos.

Fish bait

Moving up the food chain, nearly all of our region’s native fish consume mosquito eggs, larvae and/or adults as-well-as some of the previously mentioned insects.

Most of the larger fishes, such as bass, catfish, carp, crappie, bluegill and other sunfish (sometimes referred to as perch), feed upon mosquito eggs and larvae whenever the fish are newly-hatched fries or fingerlings. Many smaller fishes consume mosquitos as immature fries, fingerlings and as adults.

The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is well known for its mosquito diet. Mosquitofish are highly desirable in pond, lake and river ecosystems as mosquito eaters and as food for larger fish. Some municipalities release mosquitofish into waterways as a method of mosquito control.

Other small fish that feed upon mosquitos include shiners, bullhead minnows, goldfish, grass carp, shad and killifish. Most of the larger fishes, such as bass, catfish, carp, crappie, bluegill and other sunfish (sometimes referred to as perch), feed upon mosquito eggs and larvae whenever the fish are newly-hatched fries or fingerlings.

Many smaller fishes consume mosquitos as immature fries, fingerlings and as adults. The western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) is well known for its mosquito diet. Mosquitofish are highly desirable in pond, lake and river ecosystems as mosquito eaters and as food for larger fish.

Some municipalities release mosquitofish into waterways as a method of mosquito control. Other small fish that feed upon mosquitos include shiners, bullhead minnows, goldfish, grass carp, shad and killifish.

Slurp, one less mosquito

Amphibians and reptiles also eat mosquitos. Frogs and toads that make meals of mosquitos include chorus frogs, cricket frogs, leopard frogs, bullfrogs and the carnivorous tadpoles of spadefoot toads. Red-eared sliders have been observed eating mosquito larvae, and other turtle species probably consume mosquito wrigglers.

Although amphibians and reptiles help reduce mosquito numbers in ponds and other aquatic environments, mosquitos don’t usually make up the majority of these herps diets. Frogs, toads, and turtles prey upon a wide variety of insects and arthropods, and turtles also consume some of the aforementioned fishes.

On the wing

Many birds and bats are mosquito predators. The daytime, mosquito and insect hawking flights of purple martins, swallows and chimney swifts are familiar sights, and many people place nest boxes in yards and neighborhoods to encourage these birds to take up seasonal residences.

Nighthawks also consume considerable numbers of mosquitos during their nightly foraging; whereas, ducks and geese consume mosquito larvae along with other food items. Even hummingbirds supplement their sugar-rich, nectar diets with mosquito protein.

Some of the best adapted and most effective predators of adult mosquitos and other night-flying insects are bats. Three widespread bats, the Brazilian free-tailed bat, cave myotis, and big brown bat are opportunistic foragers, and, if mosquitos are locally abundant, may consume large quantities every night.

Acting together, insectivorous birds and bats eat thousands of mosquitos every day (and night) and literally consume tons of insects while seasonally present in Northcentral Texas and Southwestern Oklahoma!

Human defenses against skeeters

With all these different critters eating mosquitos, you might think that the little, blood-sucking insects are doomed, but the mosquitos’ advantage is their tremendous reproductive potential. However, it is encouraging to realize that we have many helpers in our war with these insects.

If all else fails, there are many types of natural and synthetic mosquito repellants and treatments. Draining standing water wherever possible and, as necessary, applying a bit of mineral or vegetable oil to the water’s surface helps prevent successful egg hatching and larval development.

Some comfort may also come by remembering that mosquitos are a “here-today-and-gone-tomorrow” group of insects and usually don’t persist in large numbers for too long.

Jim Goetze is a retired professor of biology and former chairperson of the Natural Sciences Department of Laredo College with an avid interest in all aspects of the natural world. He can be contacted at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Goetze: Goetze: They bite the biters -- skeeter-eating critters