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Message |
    
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2642
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 11:14 pm: |     |
Would it really harm the balance of nature? Would anything bad happen? Would any animals or plants become seriously fewer or go extinct?
You can extend this question to ticks and fleas, too. 
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Scott
flint knapper
Username: Scott
Post Number: 1367
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 1:10 am: | |
Yes, Purple Martins seem to feed almost exclusively on mosquitos, at least when they come north. (This is from observation, feel free to correct me if I am wrong).
Scott
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ces gens, Jondalar, ils sourient. Ils me sourient. - Ayla |
Rhi
hunter
Username: Rhi
Post Number: 443
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 1:56 am: | |
But if the mosqs weren't around anymore, could they, would they, feed on something else?
Mostly Harmless
A Knock on the Duir "If ye don't be belaving innything what fun are ye going to get out av life?" Judy Plum, LM Montgomery |
Angakuk
hunter
Username: Angakuk
Post Number: 525
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 4:18 am: | |
Guinea Fowl
quote:One of the ways that you can reduce ticks and other insects it to raise guinea fowl. They have some disadvantages: They can be noisy and they are a little tricky to raise. On the other hand, they are interesting, friendly and they will eat bugs, including Lyme ticks. Contrary to popular opinion, they are quite intelligent.
"It takes all kinds to make a world and I'm just one of them." My Grandmother
I don't blame you for not believing in the kind of god you think I believe in. I don't believe in that god either. George MacDonald (paraphrase)
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Scott
flint knapper
Username: Scott
Post Number: 1368
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 4:47 am: | |
Quite intelligent with respect to what or who I wonder.
Scott
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ces gens, Jondalar, ils sourient. Ils me sourient. - Ayla |
Angakuk
hunter
Username: Angakuk
Post Number: 526
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:20 pm: | |
In respect to ticks perhaps?
"It takes all kinds to make a world and I'm just one of them." My Grandmother
I don't blame you for not believing in the kind of god you think I believe in. I don't believe in that god either. George MacDonald (paraphrase)
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Annie
storyteller
Username: Annie
Post Number: 1804
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:57 pm: | |
Or perhaps in respect to those who fail to notice the ominous overtones of that little "...and they are a little tricky to raise" remark.
Chess is the purest form of debate, unadulterated by a topic. |
Da_bear
flint knapper
Username: Da_bear
Post Number: 825
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 8:57 pm: | |
I raise them, or try to. They are VERY intelligent in finding ways to immolate themselves creatively.
Owls tote them off, they hang themselves on open fences, and they tend to forget which nest they are incubating, which does wonders for the hatch rate.
They are smarter than chickens, I think, and WAY smarter than a domestic turkey, but That is not a roaring recommedation.
After three years of raising every one I can, helping them when I can, I have about the same number I started with, a dozen or so.
I was given two game bantams, and a chochin (bantam)rooster three years ago. I have given away a couple of dozen, eaten all the eggs I have been able to find, and will NOT cage them or help them in any way, and have a few dozen running around today.
They can survive.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. |
Annie
storyteller
Username: Annie
Post Number: 1805
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 11:33 pm: | |
ROFL!  Thanks Bear, that clarifies matters! 
Chess is the purest form of debate, unadulterated by a topic. |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2643
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 12:54 am: | |
Scott, sadly, the idea that Purple Martins feed mostly of mosquitoes has been proven incorrect. Mosquitoes and Purple Martins don't share the same airspace. Even the Purple Martin lovers (and I am one of them) have had to accept this.
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2644
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 12:58 am: | |
(Angakuk) "In respect to ticks perhaps?"
Indeed, it would rather hard to have less brainpower than a tick.
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2645
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 1:04 am: | |
Da Bear, While I would never have ranked Gineas the most intelligent of birds, I wouldn't have guessed that they were THAT stupid! I thought they lived wild somewhere, and so had to have some modicum of "survival smarts". Wow!
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Angakuk
hunter
Username: Angakuk
Post Number: 529
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 3:19 am: | |
I can't verify the accuracy of the information in this article but it states that
quote:Myth #8: Natural mosquito predators can effectively control mosquito populations.
Fact: Mosquitoes are food for a number of other insects, fish and animals, but they are not typically abundant enough to adequately control mosquito populations. Predators of mosquito larvae and pupae include fish and insects like water bugs and beetles. Adult mosquito predators include birds, bats, lizards and dragonflies.6 Some species of bats can eat large quantities of mosquitoes, and this has led some communities to erect bat houses in an attempt to boost natural mosquito control. However, not all species of bats will be attracted to such roosts and bats can introduce a new set of problems into a neighborhood, including rabies and guano odor.7
"It takes all kinds to make a world and I'm just one of them." My Grandmother
I don't blame you for not believing in the kind of god you think I believe in. I don't believe in that god either. George MacDonald (paraphrase)
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Scott
flint knapper
Username: Scott
Post Number: 1371
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 05, 2006 - 3:53 am: | |
Thanks cavebear! Another myth bites the dust. But I "knew" this was fact. I "saw" them eating mosquitoes. I even claimed that there were less at our house because of them!
More info is here: http://www.purplemartin.org/update/MosCont.html
Yes I was checking up on you cavebear!!! Thanks again!
Scott
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Ces gens, Jondalar, ils sourient. Ils me sourient. - Ayla |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2646
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 12:25 am: | |
Scott, I don't blame you in the least for checking on this. Popular press (and early Purple Martin supporters) started the idea that Purple Martins ate "2,000 mosquitoes per day". I have to admit that's what got me interested in them to begin with. I still like them anyway for their nice songs, acrobatic flying, and willingness to nest near houses.
The Purple Martin/mosquito idea is one of those things that "just makes sense" but turns out to be incorrect.
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2647
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 12:52 am: | |
(Angakuk) "I can't verify the accuracy of the information in this article but it states that"…
Thank you for the article. It presented an excellent summary of mosquito control and dangers. I use bT (it's organic) in my 2 small yard ponds for mosquito control and I certain cherish every dragonfly or damselfly around the ponds (every mosquito they eat will certainly not bite me). Still, as your article says, the mosquito predators cannot eliminate the bulk of the mosquito population. And since mosquito predators also survive quite well on other prey, I would not miss the elimination of all mosquitoes!
I found this article: http://www.texasmosquito.org/bats.html which provides additional information. Apparently, even the safest spraying regimens cause more problems than the mosquitoes themselves. I particularly noted "But neither mosquitoes, nor any of the other major urban pest species, comprise the majority of insects at a street lamp" (discussing bat predation of mosquitoes).
Not that you were disagreeing with me, but I still can't think of much of a downside if all the mosquitoes (and ticks and fleas) on Earth suddenly disappeared.
It would be my 2nd wish if I rubbed a magic lamp and got 3 wishes…
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
Angakuk
hunter
Username: Angakuk
Post Number: 531
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 1:17 pm: | |
Dare I even ask what the other two wishes would be?
"It takes all kinds to make a world and I'm just one of them." My Grandmother
I don't blame you for not believing in the kind of god you think I believe in. I don't believe in that god either. George MacDonald (paraphrase)
|
Angakuk
hunter
Username: Angakuk
Post Number: 532
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 1:24 pm: | |
As far as the role of mosquitos in the food chain, I suspect that mosquito larva (as fish food) play a much larger direct role than the adult mosquitos. This is assuming that mosquitos lay enormous numbers of eggs, the majority of which are consumed by predators (probably in the larval stage) long before they reach maturity. This seems to be the usual pattern for life forms that have an aquatic larval stage. This is just the opposite of human beings who, if the do become food for the fishes, usually do so after having achieved maturity.
"It takes all kinds to make a world and I'm just one of them." My Grandmother
I don't blame you for not believing in the kind of god you think I believe in. I don't believe in that god either. George MacDonald (paraphrase)
|
Da_bear
flint knapper
Username: Da_bear
Post Number: 826
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 4:48 pm: | |
Male mosquitoes do not bite, they are pollen eaters in many cases. As such they are important pollenators of many plants.
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/wetland s/Mosquito/MosqFood.html
When mosquitoes are adults, only the females search for blood because they are the only ones who need it. The reason that the female needs blood is because it helps egg production and makes them fertile before they lay them. The male searches for nectar, sugar, plant juices, and other sweet things. The sugar serves as fuel for their bodies. The females mostly go out at night to find some blood to take in.
As only females need the blood to make eggs, and stingers are modified ovipositors, then the rule is:
If it stings, bites, or is a blood sucker, its a female. . . . . . in the insect world.
Some argue its a general trait.
This is true in ticks also, but not in fleas. Male fleas are blood suckers.
da bear, runnnnnn awaaaaaaaayyyyy
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice. |
Sweetsunray
storyteller
Username: Sweetsunray
Post Number: 999
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 06, 2006 - 6:03 pm: | |
And I've seen a pic once where those female mosquitoes have something you can call teeth
mosquito teeth
quote:A common house mosquito (Culex sp.) stabs the skin with her sharp snout and saws in with her four knife tools to draw blood. She shoots in saliva laced with anesthetic (to escape notice) and an anticoagulant (to keep blood flowing). Then she sucks blood.
In 90 seconds, she sucks enough blood to nourish 100 eggs or more — and is too heavy to fly. She makes a controlled descent to a close safe spot where she squeezes in on her abdomen. Water oozes out of the blood, filtered through the abdominal wall, and forms a large drop. Light again, she takes off.
Everyone has a motive for giving arguments. But only the arguments given matter. |
Cavebear
cave painter
Username: Cavebear
Post Number: 2649
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 9:33 pm: | |
(Angakuk) "Dare I even ask what the other two wishes would be?"
I WAS hoping someone would ask…
Wish #1. "Health, wealth, and happiness for myself and my all my extended H sapiens family forever" (ie, all humans)
Wish #3, As I'm not allowed more wishes from a genie, I wish for 3 more genies in a bottle from whom to get 3 wishes.
LOL!
Machiavelli was pretty devious. For a guy... |
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