Mosquitoes are Beneficial to Humanity

There seems to be a war on the mosquitoes. Some people have erroneously referred to them as the most dangerous animal in the world, the leading killer of humans. In general you will find very little love or sympathy for mosquitoes.

I want to clear up the misconception that mosquitoes are dangerous killers. Female mosquitoes bite to get blood to raise her young. Not all mosquito females do this, and not all bite humans; some prefer birds, her goal is not to kill the animals she bites, her goal is to raise her young. Humans kill pigs, cattle, chickens, and so on to feed themselves, and feed their young, with the intention of killing. If we are to think of the diseases spread by mosquitoes we must remember it is the diseases that kill, not the mosquito who happens to be the carrier, it simply picked up the organism that causes the disease from an infected source.

People need to be honest, the mosquito is not a killer, the things it carries is.

Mosquitoes are very valuable to our planet, the are a food source to many animals (and even a few plants if you think about the carnivorous plants). Frogs, birds, bats, and even other insects, eat millions of mosquitoes every day (brown bats eat hundreds every night). These species will struggle without mosquitoes and many are dying even now, the result of toxins use on mosquitoes.

One animal which we must realize depends on mosquitoes for its survival is the fish! We eat fish. Fish eat mosquitoes, particularly mosquito larvae. Young lake fish feed on mosquito larvae (so do tadpoles which fish also eat), take away mosquitoes and you take away their larvae and what do fish feed on then? 

Mosquitoes are part of our food chain, we need them, so why are we so determined to kill them?

We can protect ourselves from mosquito bites, or from diseases (in many cases there are shots we can take if going into a risky area). Some people, like myself, are lucky, we can get bit and not get a reaction, and I do have sympathy for those who do get itchy bumps, but this is no reason to hate an animal that is basically doing the same thing we do; just trying to survive and raise its young.

If we must control (not eliminate) mosquitoes, we need to do it naturally without pesticides or chemicals which could harm the animals which eat mosquitoes.

Links on Exotic Pets and Pet Care

It has been a busy spring which has left me little time for blogging.  We had 18 lambs and a couple need bottle feeding so that is time consuming.  Rather than writing a full article about one specific pet, I am just going to provide you with some short information on several exotic pets with links to further reading on each.

Rabbits

Rabbits are very popular as pets, there are many breeds of rabbits, some of which require more care in regards to their fur.  Rabbits are often kept as outdoor pets however if their rump becomes dirty they are at risk from fly strike, a condition in which flies lay eggs on the rabbit's rump and the maggots can kill the rabbit.  Rabbits should have at least 2 hours out of their cage every day.

Read more about Rabbits.

Ferrets

Ferrets are possibly more work that rabbits in that they are very intelligent, curious, and playful.  A ferret should be out of its cage for at least 4 hours a day.  Ferrets are carnivores and will try to kill other small house pets, such as rabbits, birds, or even kittens. 

Read more about Ferrets.

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are nocturnal pets so may not be suited for everyone, as they can make a lot of noise at night.  Hedgehogs should be taken out for at least 2 hours every evening, usually starting around 8:00 pm.  Care should be taken when buying a hedgehog food as many low quality hedgehog foods do not meet their needs for meat.

Read more about Hedgehogs.

 

Skunks

Skunks are not a common exotic pet but they are certainly one of the most unique.  Skunks are carnivores and are nocturnal so they are not a suitable pet for everyone.  In some areas descenting skunks is illegal even though they may legally be kept as pets.  Once they are tame they are not likely to spray.

Read more about Feeding Pet Skunks.

Insects

For some people furry pets are no good, they cause allergies and are more demanding than a smaller pet such as an insect.  There are many types of insects that can be kept as pets, however in most areas it is illegal to catch and keep wild insects for more than 24 hours, however the pet trade does sell some insects as pets, such as mantis, beetles, and walking stick insects.

Read more about Walking Stick Insects.

Toucans

Toucans are considered to be soft billed birds, this is not in reference to the bill, but rather to what these birds eat, they eat soft foods, not things like nuts.  Their mouth is not as strong as a parrot's.  As such they are a more gentle pet.  Similar, but smaller, are Toucanets.

Read more about Toucans and Toucanets.

Buying Exotic Pets

Remember exotic pets are not for everyone, be sure to buy from a reputable breeder and do your research first to make sure you pick the right kind of exotic pet for your lifestyle.  Never buy a pet that you cannot provide lifetime care for.

Read a Guide to Buying Exotic Pets.

Also remember many animal shelters have exotic pets up for adoption, always check there first.

Walking Stick Insects as Pets

A few years ago my husband, daughter, and I, attended an Odd and Unusual Action (in Innsfail, Alberta) in which exotic livestock and pets are sold.  We came home with 3 jars of Northern Walking Stick insects, with 3 in each jar for a total of 9 new pet bugs.  After almost three years, we had more than 300 of the little creatures. 

Walking stick insects are great pets for people with limited space (we kept ours in a 10 gallon tank), or who have allergies to furry pets, or who want a cheap and easy pet.

click for pet supplies

In the summer we fed our pet insects leaves off our apple trees, in the winter we fed them leaves of romaine lettuce (other lettuce does not have enough nutrition).  We only had two bad experiences - once when we forgot to wash the store bought leaves and all the adults died, however a few weeks later we notice little ones in the tank, so clearly there were some unhatched eggs.  The other bad experience was when the mesh lid was not shut tight enough and a few insects escaped.  We found them on the walls and curtains for the following few days.

In addition to food they also require a water source, such as a wet sponge or damp soil.  We misted the tank several times a day.  In the picture you can see a larger adult on an apple leaf and a smaller adult on a stick.  They do require sticks so they can shed their skin.

Read more about Care for Walking Stick Insects

And another on Care of Walking Stick Insects

Read more about Cheap and Easy Pets


* Please Note in most areas it is illegal to set any unwanted walking stick insects loose into the wild.  If you have found you have more than you can care for you must dispose of them, by selling them, freezing them, or feeding them to lizards.