Did you know that many animals and insects eat mosquitoes? These natural predators help keep mosquito numbers in check, which is important for our health. Let’s look at some of the creatures that eat mosquitoes and how they help control these pests.
Birds: Mosquito Hunters in the Sky
Many birds enjoy eating mosquitoes. Birds like swallows, purple martins, and certain songbirds are especially good at catching mosquitoes. These birds are active during the times mosquitoes are out, like early in the morning and late in the evening.
Purple martins are known for eating lots of mosquitoes. Swallows are also great at catching mosquitoes while flying. By putting up birdhouses or feeders in your yard, you can attract these helpful birds and reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home.
Bats: Nighttime Mosquito Eaters
Bats are another important predator of mosquitoes. Since bats are active at night when mosquitoes are out, they help control the mosquito population after dark. A single bat is able to can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in just one night.
You can encourage bats to live near your home by putting up a bat house.
Fish: Protectors of Water from Mosquitoes
Certain types of fish are excellent at controlling mosquitoes by eating their larvae. Mosquitoes usually lay their eggs in standing water, where the larvae grow before becoming adults. Fish like guppies and goldfish love eating these larvae, stopping them from becoming adult mosquitoes.
If you have a pond or standing water in your garden, adding these fish can help keep mosquitoes from breeding there.
Insects: Nature’s Mosquito Controllers
Dragonflies are one of the most well-known insects that eat mosquitoes. Both adult dragonflies and their young, called nymphs, feed on mosquitoes. Dragonflies catch mosquitoes while flying, and their nymphs eat mosquito larvae in the water.
Damselflies, similar to dragonflies, also eat mosquitoes and their larvae, helping keep mosquito numbers low.
Frogs and Toads: Garden Helpers
Frogs and toads also eat mosquitoes, especially when they are young. Tadpoles, the young form of frogs and toads, eat mosquito larvae in water. Adult frogs and toads will also eat mosquitoes and other insects.
While they may not eat as many mosquitoes as birds or bats, frogs, and toads still play a role in controlling the mosquito population.
At a Glance
| Predator | Description |
| Birds | Includes swallows, purple martins, and songbirds. |
| Bats | Active at night, bats consume large numbers of mosquitoes. |
| Fish | Fish like guppies and goldfish eat mosquito larvae in water. |
| Dragonflies | Known as “mosquito hawks,” dragonflies and their nymphs feed on mosquitoes. |
| Frogs and Toads | Frogs, toads, and their tadpoles eat mosquitoes and their larvae. |
