The Ultimate Mosquito Prevention Guide For Dallas Properties

The Role Mosquitoes Play In The Ecosystem

While it may be difficult to imagine, mosquitoes are necessary for the earth's ecosystem. Mosquitoes eat plant juices and nectar, which makes them accidental pollinators. When mosquitoes in Dallas visit a flower for nectar, pollen sticks to their six legs, which they then transfer to the stigma of another plant, thus fertilizing it; the fertilized stigma then produces seeds. 

The next role of mosquitoes in the ecosystem sounds like revenge because most of us only experience them when they bite. So, it may please you to know that mosquitoes are prey for many species. 

When a female mosquito bites, it is because she needs nutrients from blood to produce eggs. The mosquito then lays its eggs in containers of stagnant water or on the edges of lakes and ponds. 

Goldfish, catfish, bass, bluegill, and guppies consume mosquito larvae when deposited in ponds and lakes. One particular fish, the Gambusia Affinis or mosquitofish, is particularly fond of mosquito larvae and is often used for mosquito control. Although they are not the main component of their diet, amphibians such as salamanders, toads, and frogs also eat mosquito larvae; tadpoles will also occasionally eat mosquitoes. While amphibians and fish eat mosquito larvae that fall into the water, the larvae in marshy areas and not yet in the water serve as food for reptiles like the red-eared slider turtle.

Other predators eat adult mosquitoes as they fly. Bats are infamous for their ability to scoop up mosquitoes and consume them in flight. Although reports that bats will eat 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour are highly exaggerated and based on a study done in an enclosed environment, there is no question that bats consume all mosquito varieties in large quantities. 

Although bats are the only flying mammals that consume mosquitoes, dragonflies are an insect that hunts flying mosquitoes. Like the Gambusia Affinis, which has earned the nickname "mosquitofish" due to its heavy consumption of mosquito larvae, dragonflies are known as "mosquito hawks" due to their desire to eat mosquitoes. 

Another animal that consumes flying mosquitoes is birds. Nighthawks are rockstars among mosquito-eating avians due to their bristle-lined mouths that enable them to scoop up mosquitoes as they soar through the air. Purple martins, Eastern bluebirds, warblers, Baltimore orioles, hummingbirds, and other avian species also consume mosquitoes. 

Not only do insects, fish, amphibians, birds, and flying mammals eat mosquitoes, but spiders eat mosquitoes. Spiders will kill and consume mosquitoes caught in their webs because they are a rich nutritional source, especially the females who have recently had a blood meal. Jumping, orb weaver, wolf, krab, and fishing spiders are the most commonly known predators of mosquitoes. 

As if it were not enough that bats, insects, spiders, fish, and amphibians are mosquito predators, some mosquitoes eat other mosquitoes. The toxorhynchites rutilus septentrionalis mosquito species prey on the Aedes species, which are the species that spread Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and other viruses.

You can add one more predator to the mosquito list: Adams Exterminating. Of course, we don't prey on mosquitoes for their nutritional value, but we attack mosquitoes for your protection. Our products are the best way to kill mosquitoes in the yard.