Here’s a not-so-fun fact. The deadliest animal in the world is not sharks, snakes, lions, bears, or any of the other animals we’re typically afraid of. The culprit is actually a very common backyard nuisance. By far, mosquitoes kill the most humans per year through the spread of dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses. Where does that place mosquitoes in the food chain? Let’s take a look at the various animals that mosquitoes feed on, as well as the animals that feed on them.

Which Animals Do Mosquitoes Feed On?

In addition to targeting you and your household pets, mosquitoes feed on a variety of wild animals, and different species of mosquitoes have different preferences. In general, many mosquitoes feed on birds like robins, sparrows, crows, ducks, and geese, as well as mammals like cows, horses, rodents, and raccoons. Not even snakes, lizards, frogs, or fish are safe from the appetites of mosquitoes!

This variety is exactly what results in the spread of disease. Eastern equine encephalitis, for example, is transmitted to humans and horses after a mosquito feeds on infected birds in freshwater hardwood swamps. And mosquitoes can transmit heartworm to your dog after biting infected wolves, foxes, raccoons, or other dogs.

Which Animals Eat Mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes (and mosquito larvae) have plenty of natural predators across the animal kingdom. 

• Dragonflies & Damselflies: These closely related, carnivorous insects eat mosquitoes, gnats, midges, and other small insects–sometimes eating as many as 100 mosquitoes a day! And it’s not just the adult dragonflies and damselflies. The larvae of these insects consume the larvae of mosquitoes, helping to stop mosquitoes from maturing to biting age.

• Bats: Bats have a voracious appetite for mosquito-sized insects, including moths, beetles, flies, and gnats. While they don’t necessarily target mosquitoes above all others, they eat thousands of insects every night.

• Frogs: Frogs, tadpoles, and toads consume mosquitoes as a small portion of their diverse diet, which includes plant material, invertebrates, and other insects.

• Turtles: Aquatic and Semiaquatic turtles eat all kinds of insects, including mosquitoes and their larvae, as part of their omnivorous diet.

• Fish: Because mosquito larvae live in water, they are susceptible to aquatic predators, including catfish, bass, and guppies. A fish species called the Gambusia affinis is actually more commonly referred to as the “mosquito fish” because it eats so many mosquitoes as a part of its diet.

• Birds: Many birds eat mosquitoes, including purple martins, ducks, geese, and nighthawks. The purple martin especially has a reputation for killing a large quantity of mosquitoes

Unfortunately, all these natural predators can’t effectively control mosquito populations, but professional mosquito control service from Mosquito Hero can!

Mosquito Hero Defends Your Property From Dangerous Mosquitoes

Reclaim your outdoor space with Mosquito Hero’s effective mosquito control program. Your professionally-trained technician will target the areas where mosquitoes live, rest, and hide, and you can rest easy knowing that we stand behind our Mosquito Service Guarantee! If you experience biting in between scheduled treatments, we’ll happily come out and re-treat your property at no extra cost.

Find a Mosquito Hero near you and request a free quote today!