What are mosquitoes actually good for, anyway?

Pollinators

You might think that mosquitoes' main food source is blood, but actually, only females “bite” and use the protein in blood to feed their eggs. Both male and female eat nectar as their primary food source, which is how they serve as pollinators to thousands of plant species! They transfer pollen from flower to flower as they feed on nectar, just like bees and butterflies.

The Food Chain

As we know, every ecosystem needs balance. Interactions in the food chain regulate plants, bugs and animals in order to avoid extinction, overpopulation, and disease. Larvae grow by consuming microorganisms like algae and microbes that decompose decaying plants. Then, larvae feed fish, turtles, amphibians, and other insects. Lastly, adult mosquitoes are an important food source to birds, bats, and aquatic life.

The Downside

While mosquitos are the carriers of many diseases like Zika and Malaria, a common question is, how can we get rid of mosquitos? Many scientists say that knocking out an entire species would be impossible. So the question then becomes, how can we protect ourselves and our ecosystem? The best way to do this is to repel mosquitos whenever you are outdoors. Whether you're hiking, hunting, or hanging in your backyard, stay protected with Thermacell.