Spring is fast approaching, and that means mosquito season is starting up again. Did you know that mosquitoes aren’t actually “out to get and bite us”? In fact, male mosquitoes don’t ever bite, it’s just the female ones, and they are doing this in support of developing their eggs.
Adult mosquitoes feed on plant sugar, often in the form of floral nectar.
Like bees or butterflies, mosquitoes pollinate many of the flowers they visit and transfer pollen between flowers. This then fertilises the flora and allows them to form seeds and reproduce. We don’t often see this as most mosquitoes stop by flowers near or after dusk and are often disturbed by human activity. Mosquitoes also help to pollinate aquatic plants which in turn helps to preserve the plant continuity that provides shelter and homes for other animals and wildlife.
Although we all see them as a nuisance, they contribute to bio-diversity which, as you know, is something we encourage at Fairview. So, next time you see a mosquito, remember that it does have a purpose and an ecological role to play.
References: Insect Guide, Nature Science, Awkward Botany
