Mosquitoes are some of the most bothersome insects you can have in your yard, mainly because of their itchy bites and annoying buzzing. Nobody likes having mosquitoes around their home, so if you want to reduce the number of mosquitoes, there are a few things you can do. You can use tools like mosquito traps or mosquito misting systems to keep these bugs away, but you can also get other creatures to eat them.
There are plenty of creatures that eat mosquitoes, and if you want a form of natural mosquito control, getting other animals to eat them is the best option. Read on to see a list of different mosquito-eaters and whether they can handle the bugs in your yard. If natural solutions don’t work, you can always use a pest control service to get rid of your mosquito problem. Get a free quote from some of the best pest control companies in the industry below.
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Do Dragonflies Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Dragonflies eat mosquitoes both as larvae and flying insects. Dragonflies are extraordinarily agile in flight, outmaneuvering mosquitoes, bees, gnats, ants, butterflies and other flying insects. Mosquitoes might even be the reason why you have dragonflies in your yard.
Do Bats Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Bats love to eat mosquitoes and other insects. According to the United States Forest Service, bats can eat up to 100 mosquitoes or mosquito-sized insects per hour.
Do Crane Flies Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Crane flies, which look like oversized mosquitoes, don’t eat at all during their short lives as adults. Their whole life cycle is only about 10 to 15 days from hatching to death, and they’re only adults for a few of those days.
Do Mosquito Hawks Eat Mosquitoes?
No. “Mosquito hawk” is another name for crane flies, which don’t eat mosquitoes.
Do Spiders Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Spiders spin webs that catch a multitude of flying insects, including mosquitoes. Once their prey is caught in their web, a spider will wrap it in spider silk and save the insect until it’s hungry.
Do Hummingbirds Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Hummingbirds primarily eat flower nectar, visiting up to 1000 flowers a day. However, they also need protein, which they get from eating mosquitoes, gnats, aphids, flying ants, white flies, and more.
Do Frogs Or Toads Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes, however, according to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Entomology, most adult frogs and tadpoles don’t eat mosquitoes. While frogs and toads can eat mosquitoes, they’re not a central part of their diets.
Do Birds Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Most bird species eat mosquitoes, and insects are a mainstay in the diets of most birds, so they naturally wind up eating mosquitoes as well. Some of the most common types of birds that eat mosquitoes are purple martins, Eastern bluebirds, red-eyed vireos, yellow warblers, downy woodpeckers, and others. However, birds don’t eat mosquitoes exclusively.
Do Mayflies Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Adult mayflies don’t eat mosquitoes. In fact, according to Michigan State University, adult mayflies don’t eat at all.
Do Love Bugs Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Love bugs aren’t native to the United States, and they don’t eat mosquitoes. Instead, they feed on flowers, just like many other pollinator species.
Do Wasps Eat Mosquitoes?
Generally, no. Wasps aren’t a common predator of mosquitoes. They eat nectar, fruits, honey, some small insects, and a few types of plants. Although they may sometimes kill and eat a mosquito, it’s not common.
Do Venus Fly Traps Eat Mosquitoes?
Sometimes. Venus fly traps eat insects, which they lure in with their nectar. They’ll sometimes lure a male mosquito into their trap, but Venus fly traps aren’t known for eating mosquitoes.
Do Chickens Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Chickens often eat mosquitoes and other insects, such as ticks and grasshoppers. Some breeds of chickens are better at catching insects than others, so keep that in mind if you have chickens in your yard.
Do Ladybugs Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Ladybugs are carnivores, but they avoid eating bloodsucking insects such as mosquitoes and bed bugs. Ladybugs eat garden pests like aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects, but they might consume the occasional male mosquito. Still, as a general rule, they don’t eat mosquitoes.
Do Lizards Eat Mosquitoes?
Not typically. Lizards have a widely varying diet and will opportunistically eat the odd mosquito here and there, but not enough to have any impact on their population.
Do Moths Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Moths don’t feed on insects at all. The only foods they eat are nectar, tree sap and rotting fruit.
Do Barn Swallows Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. In fact, many songbirds eat mosquitoes. According to Bird Note, barn swallows love to eat mosquitoes, gnats, and flying termite swarmers. They can eat up to 60 insects per hour, so they play a definite role in keeping the mosquito population in check.
Do Praying Mantises Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Praying mantises eat mosquitoes, but their diet mainly consists of insects like grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, and beetles.
Do Ducks Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Like most birds, ducks eat mosquitoes along with other insects. Most waterfowl also eat mosquito larvae and pupae in the water.
Do Bees Eat Mosquitoes?
No. Bees are not a natural enemy of mosquitoes or one of their predators. Like wasps, they might accidentally kill a male mosquito from time to time in a territorial dispute over flowers and access to pollen, but they don’t feed on them.
Do Fish Eat Mosquitoes?
Yes. Certain species of fish eat mosquitoes in the larval stage whenever they get the chance. Chief among these are bluegill, goldfish, guppies, minnows, mosquito fish, catfish, and koi fish. They won’t eat the adults, but they love to eat the larvae and pupae.
Summary Table: Which Creatures Eat Mosquitoes?
There are lots of animals and insects that eat mosquitoes, so it can be hard to keep track of them all. If you want a quick reference for which animals eat mosquitoes, refer to the chart below.
| Creature | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonflies | X | |
| Craneflies | X | |
| Spiders | X | |
| Frogs & Toads | X | |
| Mayflies | X | |
| Wasps | X | |
| Chickens | X | |
| Lizards | X | |
| Barn Swallows | X | |
| Ducks | X | |
| Fish | X | |
| Bats | X | |
| Mosquito Hawks | X | |
| Hummingbirds | X | |
| Birds | X | |
| Love Bugs | X | |
| Venus Fly Traps | X | |
| Moths | X | |
| Praying Mantises | X | |
| Bees | X | |
| Lady Bugs | X |
Are Mosquitoes Dangerous?
While mosquitoes may not seem like dangerous insects, they can be. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, mosquitoes are dangerous because they can transport diseases like malaria, Dengue virus, Zika, and West Nile virus. Mosquito bites can be annoying, but they’re nothing compared to these serious diseases.
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Adult mosquitoes are attracted to food sources, which differ between males and females. Males typically feed on nectar, while females feed on blood. Additionally, mosquitoes are attracted to standing water because they need it to complete their life cycles. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water, which can include birdbaths, freshwater lakes and ponds, and containers filled with rainwater.
Final Thoughts on Mosquito Predators
There are many natural predators of mosquitoes, such as birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. If you have frequent mosquito infestations, it’s worth considering introducing some natural predators to keep them away. However, the most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes is by hiring a pest control expert.
If you’re looking for pest control help, you shouldn’t settle for DIY pest control methods. Use the tool below to get estimates from local pest control professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of birds eat mosquitoes?
According to the National Wildlife Foundation, many birds, such as purple martins, Eastern bluebirds, red-eyed vireos, yellow warblers, downy woodpeckers and others eat mosquitoes.
Which animal is best at eating mosquitoes?
Some of the best animals for eating mosquitoes are bats and birds because they can eat a lot of them. Bats can eat up to 100 mosquitoes (or mosquito-sized insects) in an hour.
Do mosquitoes eat other mosquitoes?
Some mosquitoes can feed on other mosquitoes, but it’s not common. Male mosquitoes mainly feed on nectar, while females feed on blood.
What diseases do mosquitoes spread?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mosquitoes can spread Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, Dengue, and malaria to humans.
