高清福利片

Mosquitoes are聽聽on the planet. They cause no end of anxiety for people at risk of mosquito-borne disease. With the leap of聽聽into the international public health spotlight this year, we鈥檙e reminded once more how threatening these otherwise fragile insects can be.

But a battle rages in Australian backyards each summer that all too often escapes our attention. There is a fight between the 鈥済ood鈥� and 鈥渂ad鈥� mosquitoes for our pot plant saucers and bird baths, our roof gutters and rainwater tanks 鈥� and, most importantly,聽.

Mosquitoes are incredibly adaptable creatures. They鈥檝e adapted to almost every aquatic environment on the planet, from coastal rockpools to snowmelt streams and polluted drains to pristine wetlands 鈥� everywhere, in fact, apart from the open ocean.

Not only will you find mosquitoes in all of these environments, but you鈥檒l find some mosquitoes specifically adapted to these unique habitats.

There is no better example of the adaptability of mosquitoes than in our own backyards.

Backyard paradise

There鈥檚 a suite of mosquitoes found in tree holes and water-holding plants. They lay eggs at the edges of the small pools of water collected in the nooks and crannies of trees or in leaf axils (the tiny point where the leaf joins the stem). Some mosquitoes have even adapted to life in聽. While many of them are still found in these habitats, others have given up the swamps and forests for our suburbs.

As people intentionally, or unintentionally, started storing water around the home, mosquitoes took the chance to exploit these unoccupied niches. The plastic takeaway food container, the tyre, the bird bath and rainwater tank have all been embraced by mosquitoes, not only as homes but also as a way to hitchhike from one country to another.

There is little doubt that some mosquitoes arrived in Australia for the first time along with European explorers, their eggs hidden away in the cracks and crevices of water barrels. Mosquitoes have kept coming to Australia by air and sea, hidden as eggs on cargo and personal belongings.

The most recent arrival,聽Aedes albopictus, is聽聽and may influence聽. However, some 鈥渉ome-grown鈥� mosquitoes are already flourishing in our suburbs.

There are 鈥渂ad鈥� mosquitoes鈥�

Australia has聽聽of native mozzies but聽Aedes notoscriptus聽probably bites more Australians than any other mosquito. It is widespread across the country, from Darwin to Hobart and from Brisbane to Perth. We鈥檝e even聽! It is active most of the year, disappearing only in the particularly cold months.

It is found in close association with water-filled containers and water-holding plants (particularly bromeliads). The mosquitoes lay eggs around the edge of the water. Then, as water levels rise, the eggs are covered and the larvae (commonly known as 鈥渨rigglers鈥�) quickly hatch out.

It may then take only a week for adult mosquitoes to emerge from the water. They聽聽from their favourite habitats. So, if you provide a nicely shaded backyard with plenty of water-holding containers, there isn鈥檛 much need for them to move on.

This mosquito is rarely very abundant but it readily bites people. It tends to be more active in the mid- to late afternoon 鈥� perfect timing to disrupt backyard activities in the cooler parts of the day.

It has also been聽听辞蹿听, so it鈥檚 more than just an annoying nuisance. It can even infect our pets with聽.

鈥�but also 鈥済ood鈥� mosquitoes!

Pest mosquitoes such as聽Aedes notoscriptus聽may be annoying to us, but they鈥檙e a delicious treat to one predatory mosquito.

Toxorhynchites speciosus聽is as 鈥済ood鈥� a mosquito as there can be. First, it is a gorgeous creature. Almost four times the size of a typical mosquito, it is a large dark and shiny mosquito with bright metallic patterns. But they鈥檙e not just good-looking.

This is one of the few mosquitoes that don鈥檛 need blood. Unlike almost all other mosquitoes, the females of which need blood to develop their eggs,Toxorhynchites speciosus聽doesn鈥檛 bite.

It gets its energy from plant juices and nectar. Its long, curved proboscis is a giveaway to its sugar-feeding lifestyles, and is a friendlier visage than the needle-like proboscis of most other mozzies.

The good news doesn鈥檛 end there. Not only are they not pests themselves but the larvae of聽Toxorhynchites speciosus聽are predatory and聽聽found in water-holding containers. In some parts of the world, a closely related mosquito is used as a聽聽of the pests that spread dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses.

奥丑颈濒别听Toxorhynchites speciosus聽will chomp through plenty of wrigglers ofAedes notoscriptus聽each summer in Australian backyards, it is unlikely to make a huge difference in bites. However, next time you see a 鈥済iant mozzie鈥� buzz by, think twice before you squish it.

If you want to keep the pest mosquitoes out of your backyard, make sure you get rid of any water-holding containers. If you can鈥檛 throw them out, keep them covered.

Check to make sure your roof gutters and drains are clear of leaves and other debris so they flow freely. Check your rainwater tank is screened to stop the mozzies entering. And try not to kill the good guys who help keep the other mozzies at bay!

This article is part of a聽. Are you a researcher with an idea for a 鈥渉idden housemates鈥� story?聽Get in touch.

This article by Dr Cameron Webb was orignally published in .