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Millions of years gone by, and these pesky critters are still with us, alive and well. As anyone who has asked the question, "what are they here for?" there just might not be a definitive answer that would satisfy our particular curiosity about what their purpose in life is on this planet.

I attract them like dog doo attracts flies, and find that the most enjoyable time of year is spoiled by their dedicated pursuit of my blood. I'm not alone, as there are millions upon millions who suffer the same. Some are totaly without the discomfort of having to deal with them, as their body chemistry acts like a protective shield against them. But for those of us who share this hate for them, we can do nothing but only try to protect ourselves from their blood thirsty appetites.

So what are they really good for? Who really knows, except they are here for a purpose, and it isn't of any interest to us because it doesn't help make life more enjoyable with them being around knowing what they are here for.

I would love to say good for nothing, but as with everything on this planet, there is a reason for their existence.
Since they breed in ponds and canals, they are an important food source for fish. The larvae and pupae are what many kinds of fish survive on.

The adult mosquitoes are a food source for a large number of birds and bats.
They also have their place in that they contribute to the distribution of pollen as they go from one flower to another for the nectar; they pick up pollen that is transferred to the next flower they visit.

Since they love plant nectar, it's probably a good idea to have a large number of flowers around the yard so as to provide them with nectar rather than our blood.
We came after the mosquitoes and most likely they will be here after we're gone. But to be sure, they are a necessary nuisance that were put here for a purpose so that our perfect balance for existence remains intact.

I'm sure we wouldn't mind at all if they weren't such pests to us humans and enough of a sense to know that upon using us as a food source they would perish, but I guess it's all about helping keep that balance.

Learn more about this author, Richard Serra.
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