Mosquitos what use are they?

[Cindy]

It isn't summer yet and South Australia is already starting to bake. 38C today, I'm sitting outside in my bikini at 9 o'clock at night moderating the forum, surreal !

The mossies are like bats, flying crocodiles. Where do these useless creatures fit in the world? Even the globe orb spider in a giant web seems to have given up, all mossie and no meat.

What damn use are they?

Mm looks like a OMG it is so hot my feeble brain is frying post.

[LordKAT]

Some diseases need their own airplane?

[Taka]

the males are very useful for cloudberries. they carry pollen rather than disease.
so do the females, until they notice a creature carrying a much more nourishing food.
like all good mothers, they want only the best for their kids, and that's why we fall victim to them.

[suzifrommd]

Unfortunately, nature doesn't care what use they are. Nature just cares whether they can survive.

[Jill F]

Because West Nile and malaria are awesome?

[Contravene]

If you think mosquitoes are bad you should try having a stink bug invasion like we've had here in the eastern part of the US. Those are absolutely worthless creatures but at least they don't bite, I guess.

[ImagineKate]

I'm sure humans are far worse for the planet than the skeeters will ever be, lol.

That said, having grown up in the Caribbean, I feel your pain. We had nets over the beds and we would constantly be on patrol for stuff in the yard that had standing water. We also used mosquito coils (responsible for many a house fire, in wooden houses) and later on electric mosquito mats (dispensing allethrin). Once the mat was on and the room filled with toxic fumes, the mosquitoes would literally drop out of the air. I'm sure it did wonders for our health too.

[ErinWDK]

The mossies are like bats, flying crocodiles.

Mosquitos the size of bats?  Mosquitos the size of crocodiles?  And I had thoughts of someday travelling to OZ.  I am going to have to rethink that one...

Thanks for the heads up!


Erin

[Ms Grace]

They are useless, no doubt about it - but at least they come with their own inbuilt alarm to alert us to them

SKWISH!

[MugwortPsychonaut]

Mosquitoes feed frogs. What good are ticks and bedbugs?

[Eevee]

If you want my logical input on this, then mosquitoes don't have a direct positive impact on us, but do have a more indirect importance in the ecosystem that has a positive impact elsewhere.

If you want my personal feelings on this, then mosquitoes need to be entirely eradicated... with fire 

[Danielle Emmalee]

What good are humans, for that matter?

[Jill F]

What good are humans, for that matter?

I like to help other humans. 

And animals. 

[Tessa James]

There is a fabulous trail and lake system in way northern Minnesota's Boundary Water Canoe Area.  We hiked the Gunflint trail and lived in the humming cloud of skeets, black flies and no seeums around our heads and encampment.  A wall of the little devils was outside the tent and invariably one or more would get in and torment us through the nights.  Despite the anti bug juice I eventually developed a fever and encephalitis.  I still return to the north woods for family gatherings but only in the early spring or late fall.

If developing better medications and character immune to torment is a "use" then I know their utility

Thanks for bringing in a more global and less anthropocentric view Danielle

[skin]

The purpose of mosquitoes is to start breast development in male-to-female transgender persons.  After biting the nipples, the resulting mosquito bites will serve as tiny, awkward substitutes for breasts for about 1 year before giving way to real boobs.

[Tysilio]

They keep the tourists out of the Arctic. If you're a canoeist, this is huge.

Of course, the blackflies do an even better job... and they taste like blueberries! Yum.

[stephaniec]

the planet needs  them to spread the final apocalypse to return  the planet to pristine nature and the rebirth of the native species the dinosaur .

[Jessica Merriman]

The purpose of mosquitoes is to start breast development in male-to-female transgender persons.  After biting the nipples, the resulting mosquito bites will serve as tiny, awkward substitutes for breasts for about 1 year before giving way to real boobs.

I just LOVE positive people!!! 

And to think how much I spent on HRT when all I had to do was move to Australia!! 

[Jaime R D]

They keep large mosquito repellant companies in business. And some birds, bats and other insects eat them. Me, I like mowing when lots of dragon flies are around cause then you likely won't get bitten by a mosquito at all.  As a marsh monster, I fully support the right of mosquitos to exist along with the rest of us.

[Devlyn]

"Mosquitos what use are they?"

You're kidding, right? The Mosquito was one of the most important airplanes ever produced.