Earth & Sky

Alaskan Mosquito

JB: This is Earth and Sky. Alaskan mosquitoes are legendary for their size and number.

DB: Some Alaskans joke that the mosquito should be the state bird. But this pest might be a blessing in disguise. Mosquitoes are a crucial part of the Arctic food web. Adult mosquitoes live on land and in the air, and serve as food for swallows, wasps, and spiders. Mosquitoes spend their early days as worm-like larvae in water – wiggling their way through the water column or breathing at the surface. So they’re easy prey for dragonflies and salmon and other fish.

JB: In parts of Alaska, people depend on berry crops in the fall. And mosquitoes actually play a small role in pollinating cranberry and blueberry plants. Mosquitoes spread pollen around as they warm themselves on the surface of the berry plant’s bowl-shaped flowers. At one time or another, many Alaskans have probably wished that mosquitoes would vanish. But consider what might happen. Bird and fish populations would probably decline, along with populations of predators that depend on them.

DB: Caribou would likely be affected, too – for better or worse. Mosquitoes torment the caribou, and their lives would be easier without the pestering. But hardship isn’t always a biological drawback. Weak animals are weeded out, so the stronger animals are left to thrive and reproduce. Special thanks today to the National Park Service and to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.