Who eats mosquitoes

Mosquitoes, along with their larvae, are very important components of many biocenoses. Mosquito - the link of the long food chain, which contains insects, birds, fish, and some other amphibians. And if at least one element of the chain disappears, nature will no longer be able to exist in its usual form. Among those who eat mosquitoes, there are exceptional species that feed only on these insects.

Who eats the larvae

Mosquito females lay their offspring in stagnant reservoirs, so that the grown-up individuals always have access to food. But at the same time mosquito larvae and the eggs themselves become the object of attack. Therefore, mosquito females often try to disguise clutch as much as possible in order to allow small individuals to grow.

Most of the larvae are located on the surface of the water and they are not opposed to eat various arthropods, water striders, swimming beetles, water bugs, pincers, dragonflies, small crustaceans. Mosquito larvae are mobile and can flee from their enemies. But even this ability rarely helps them.

Greater danger to the representatives of this order are dragonflies. They are characterized by unprecedented voracity and can eat and larvae, and adults. Dragonflies are amazing predators, they have excellent eyesight and the ability to correctly calculate speed to catch the prey. But even this is not as scary as the stupid appetite of these colorful insects, capable of eating the bloodsucker without stopping.

Insects that eat mosquitoes and their larvae

Dragonflies eat mosquitoes even when they are in the larval stage. Their larvae are larger than the mosquito larvae, which gives them a huge advantage in the fight. The same is done by the larvae of other inhabitants of the marshes, lakes, which are larger in size.

Interesting!

Conducting an experiment to find out how many mosquitoes and flies a dragonfly can eat has led to a result of 30 individuals. And this is not the limit.

Various fish can eat mosquito larvae. Gambusia and wild species of guppy fish are considered to be the moth by the main component in the diet. This skillfully enjoyed by lovers of fishing or the owners of aquarium fish.

They also have larger natural enemies. Waterfowl eat mosquitoes. They pass water through the beak and destroy a large number of not only larvae, but also eggs. Gulls, ducks, geese - help regulate the population of bloodsuckers.

Who feeds on adults

But even after getting the opportunity to fly and growing up, mosquitoes do not make life easier. On land, there are many representatives of the animal and plant world, who will not give up such a delicacy.

Predator plants, birds and frogs eating mosquitoes

In nature, there are several species of predator plants that absorb bloodsuckers in various ways. Some on the petals have a special substance that catches insects like an adhesive tape, while others even have special organs for capturing food.The most famous plants are:

1. Zhyryanka.
2. Flycatcher.
3. Sundew.
4. Rosolist.
5. Pemphigus.

Interesting!

It feeds on mosquitoes and fish, which finds a source of food on the surface of water bodies. These are trout, roach, whitefish, grayling, whitefish, bruzgun fish. The latter specifically jumps out of the water when an insect flies over the surface and knocks it down with a stream of water.

Birds eat mosquitoes wherever they find: in water, grass, in trees, in the air. The most dangerous enemies:

1. Swifts.
2. Swallows.
3. Orioles.
4. Kings
5. Tits
6. Kulik.
7. Finches.
8. Zyryanki.
9. Starlings

There are mosquitoes and larger enemies. Frogs, newts, toads, chameleons, lizards and even turtles can eat bloodsuckers. Various species of turtles destroy the larvae of these insects.

Even small animal species are not spared mosquitoes. They are caught by bats, regular mice and hedgehogs.

Thus, the enemies of mosquitoes and their larvae is enough. At any time of the day, in any territory, these small bloodsuckers must always be careful not to be eaten. Therefore, female mosquitoes are trying to make the maximum number of clutches and to prevent the decline of the population.