The purpose of mosquitos..

[siren13]

I was sitting at a friends house watching the latest Notre Dame game (we lost of course..) and even though I had long jeans on and a long sweatshirt and sandals we enjoyed lovely food and drink while watching her big screen in the garage. I did not remember to spray any repellent on myself and ended up with two tiny but extremely itchy bites on top of my foot.

Next day got me thinking..what is the actual purpose of this insect?

Then I got to doing some research on the subject. I was finding a lack of serious responses and then the thought struck me. They are food for animals, they suck blood which has proteins in it. Yes, they can spread nasty diseases, but in general they DO serve a less uninviting purpose.

Raising beta fish for a number of years to the point I enjoy discussing them with anyone willing to listen..I have found that the mosquito larvae actually make a lovely treat and high in protein food for most aquatic creatures. Not to mention bats love them as well. Also they bite us and we do not even feel a thing. I read once that scientists learned about numbing patients after watching mosquitos very closely.

It also got me thinking that perhaps like ticks and other nasty things they will also be able to be used to cure diseases at some point and for now we do not even know that future purpose.

So in point I am sort of a lover of all creatures.. hard to do at times, but I also feel bad killing them. I usually use a repellent and if one gets in my house I will shew it out till it goes away. it isn't their fault they are what they are right?

In perspective I have found many interesting articles discussing this alternative look..

http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2009/01/ ... itoes.html

http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/20 ... .Gb.r.html

never know.. a mosquito may thank you for reading this article.. maybe when it dies it will come back and be your dog in it's next life and be very loyal to you for NOT smacking it dead..hmm really makes me think I may be crazy about now, but what else is good for showing off a little crazy behavior except on here.

Kelly

[Moon]

I would love to get rid of all mosquitoes, (or as my 5th grade teacher called them mosquiters) but as you have found out they are a food source for many animals. Larger insects such as dragonflies, smaller fish and amphibians still in the water etc all eat them.

The pesky fly is also valuable as they help break down dead animals and also are major pollinators after the honeybee.

I still wonder what purpose the cockroach has other than to disgust us humans.

[angeloneastralseed]

Why so many types of spiders? It should be Daddy Long Legs and no other - I can't stand the things. I got bit by a Black Widow 2 years ago on the 4th of July and ended up in the hospital.

[siren13]

They found recently 3,000 more types of spiders in 2010!!!

[Ace Rimmer]

Interesting links Kelly.

I believe all life on earth has a purpose*, we just might not be aware of what it is.




*except for a few people I work with

[Moon]

Why so many types of spiders? It should be Daddy Long Legs and no other - I can't stand the things. I got bit by a Black Widow 2 years ago on the 4th of July and ended up in the hospital.

Venom from various spiders has been researched to help find new drugs and cures for diseases out there. Also, spider silk has been studied to make some synthetic fibers much stronger than steel. So those pesky eight legged ones do have some purpose. Besides, my one kitty loves to play with them and eat them.

[angeloneastralseed]

Thanks Siren, just what I needed to hear

My cats prefer moths. I like Praying Mantis's (did I write that correctly?) They are so cool looking and can jump like crazy.

[siren13]

I try I guess ...

[rossm477]

all living things are competing for existence on this planet. you could say the same for us. If animals could talk theyd probably say humans have destroyed half the worlds forest, put a hole in the ozone layer,and are changing the climate by burning fossilfuels.. whats thier purpose?

[siren13]

probably true

[rossm477]

another question along simular lines could be whats the purpose of virusis? unlike mosquitos, virusis play no role in ecological communities, all they do is mutate and infect a host. Perhaps without virusis or (diseases) evolution would occur at a much slower rate?

[Moon]

all living things are competing for existence on this planet. you could say the same for us. If animals could talk theyd probably say humans have destroyed half the worlds forest, put a hole in the ozone layer,and are changing the climate by burning fossilfuels.. whats thier purpose?

So true as we are destroying this world and the other living creatures with it.

another question along simular lines could be whats the purpose of virusis? unlike mosquitos, virusis play no role in ecological communities, all they do is mutate and infect a host. Perhaps without virusis or (diseases) evolution would occur at a much slower rate?

Viruses and humans, who needs them?

[siren13]

I don't mind a cold every now and then I think it is my body's way of telling me I need to slow down and rest. Sometimes with out those things I get worse things. In perspective...

[Tawny]

why do things need a purpose?
whats our purpose?

[siren13]

Good questions... I think everyone has their own reason or beliefs as far as that goes. It is really up to you and what you want to do to fullfill your purpose.. if purpose is the correct word. Everything has a reason as we are all connected. Just some things don't seem as important as others. That is what most people think of mosquitos..but the articles are basically just putting it into a scientific perspective.

[Moon]

The warm weather is hitting and we have to get ready for an onslaught of these insects. It was a very mild and warm winter this year so insect infestations will be a huge problem this summer.

[Ace Rimmer]

why do things need a purpose?
whats our purpose?

From The Book of Bokonon

The First Book

Warning from title page: Don't be a fool! Close this book at once! It is nothing but foma!

Verse 1: All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies.

Verses 2-4 (?): In the beginning, God created the earth, and he looked upon it in His cosmic loneliness.

And God said, "Let Us make living creatures out of mud, so the mud can see what We have done." And God created every living creature that now moveth, and one was man. Mud as man alone could speak. God leaned close as mud as man sat up, looked around, and spoke. Man blinked. "What is the purpose of all this?" he asked politely.

"Everything must have a purpose?" asked God.

"Certainly," said man.

"Then I leave it to you to think of one for all this," said God.

And He went away.

Verse 5: Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.

[seeker1117]

Verse 5: Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.

Many "thank you"s for that. I needed to hear that. Danke.

[Ace Rimmer]

Verse 5: Live by the foma that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy.

Many "thank you"s for that. I needed to hear that. Danke.

Certainly! Everybody needs a daily dose of Vonnegut.

[Christina_Sparrow]

Why so many types of spiders? It should be Daddy Long Legs and no other - I can't stand the things. I got bit by a Black Widow 2 years ago on the 4th of July and ended up in the hospital.

I got bitten by a brown recluse in 2006, and for 4 weeks the doctors and nurses I went to kept treating the wound like a staph infection (in my opinion because I'm heavily tattooed so they assumed incorrectly). I remembered exactly when I was bit, and after I smashed the spider I put it in a plastic bag, because I was pretty sure it was a brown recluse and not a similar-looking spider common in Texas. Even with this spider as proof, and a black line that began to move from the wound towards my spine (it was venom killing my flesh, btw), and all the circular markings around the wound that made it obviously a spider bite, it was still treated as a staph infection. After 6 weeks I was hospitalized and nearly paralyzed as the infection from venomous rotting flesh nearly reached my spinal column. In removing the infected area, when the skin was punctured with a scalpel, blood and pus sprang from the wound nearly a foot in the air because of all the pressure underneath my skin.

I now have an adorable dimple on the top of my ass. (I will relieve you all of the disgusting details of maintaining a healing wound that went about 3-4 inches deep) I do not respect whatever the importance this spider has for our environment.

And as far as mosquitoes, those MFs seek me out, I swear to Anu. My sisters and brothers suffer as I do - we must have sweet blood or something. (that was sarcasm) I swear, no one around me will even notice them dang skeeters are around, and I'm covered in bites! I am starting to develop a conspiracy theory that they are like organic nano robots taking samples of my DNA for government experimentation.