Lesson 5.2 - Mosquito Populations

Do you like mosquitoes?  This insect is an irritating and sometimes dangerous pest.  They are notorious blood-sucking insects that spread many diseases.  People have fought against mosquitoes with chemicals and by draining the marshes where they breed.   

Work through the Disc connect on page 269 of your textbook. Then, answer the following questions.

 

Question 1. In the food web, which organisms depend on the mosquito directly as a food source?

Question 2. In the food web, which organisms depend on the mosquito indirectly as a food source?

Question 3. How can mosquitoes be controlled naturally?

Question 4. Mosquitoes be controlled using chemicals called pesticides.  What can happen to species other than mosquitoes when chemical pesticides are used?

Question 5. How long can mosquito eggs lie dormant?

Question 6. Some people think that mosquitoes should be exterminated because they spread disease and cause much misery.  Explain why extermination of mosquitoes is not a good idea.

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. In the food web, which organisms depend on the mosquito directly as a food source?

Dragonflies, swallow, frogs, and bats depend on the mosquito as a food source.

Question 2. In the food web, which organisms depend on the mosquito indirectly as a food source?

Fish, ducks, owls, and snakes depend on the mosquito indirectly as a food source because they eat organisms that feed directly on the mosquito. 

Question 3. How can mosquitoes be controlled naturally?

Mosquitoes can be controlled naturally by increasing the number of predators of the mosquito. 

Question 4. Mosquitoes be controlled using chemicals called pesticides.  What can happen to species other than mosquitoes when chemical pesticides are used?

Other species can be killed by the pesticides.  If the mosquito population is reduced severely, the species that prey on the mosquito will also decrease.

Question 5. How long can mosquito eggs lay dormant?

The mosquito eggs can remain dormant for up to five years.

Question 6. Some people think that mosquitoes should be exterminated because they spread disease and cause much misery.  Explain why extermination of mosquitoes is not a good idea.

Many species depend on the mosquito to survive, both directly and indirectly.  If mosquitoes were exterminated, many other species would be exterminated as well.  This would have very serious effects on all life on the planet. 

 


Now, do Assignment 13E.  Page forward to access the computer-scored assignment.