Removing Rats from a small Atoll also got rid of Mosquitos

[BillTre]

Introduced rats from exterminated on Palmyra Atoll.
This seems to have deprived the mosquitos of blood meals the females need to produce eggs and they went extinct also.
Article here. Popular article here.
This probably would not work where other mammals are present.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I've always been curious how there there enough mammals to support mosquito populations. Most woodland mammals have thick fur. Deer I suppose are a primary target, but there aren't any in my backyard and some summer months there are swarms of mosquitoes. So where is the blood coming from?

 

[BillTre]

Apparently on this atoll, the only other mammals are the human researchers now.
The rats also provided places for the eggs/larvae, chewed open coconut shells.

In the woods there are also mice, squirrels opossums, raccoons, etc.
Some mosquitoes go after birds rather then humans, of course you tend to not notice them so much.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

In the woods there are also mice, squirrels opossums, raccoons, etc.
Some mosquitoes go after birds rather then humans, of course you tend to not notice them so much.

I guess I'm just impressed they can get through fur and feathers. Sure makes us humans look like fast food!

 

[OCR]

Is this some kind of "autocorrect" mess up ?

Introduced rats from exterminated on Palmyra Atoll.

I can't read that in any way that makes sense... .

 

[BillTre]

Is this some kind of "autocorrect" mess up ?

I can't read that in any way that makes sense... .

No just a kind of typical mess:

The rats were introduced (not on purpose) in WW2 when the military made airbases were made there.
The rats were killing native birds etc.
Conservation people killed the rats off recently.

 

[OCR]

No just a kind of typical mess:

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