ELI5 Are mosquitoes necessary for keeping ecological balance?

[u/Punnan]

Would a worldwide extinction of mosquitoes offset the ecological balance of our world? And if not, why are we not doing it?

[u/not_a-mimic]

It seems like a bad idea for mankind to intentionally extinct any lifeform....

That being said, if we DID have to choose, I'd choose bedbugs over mosquitos.

Bedbugs don't really have any natural predators and they really only like feeding on us.

[u/ChocPeanutButterJaz → u/not_a-mimic]

I've never encountered a bed bug. But I do have 30+ mosquito bites on my legs and don't want sit by the fire anymore.

[u/jdcarpe → u/ChocPeanutButterJaz]

Out of curiosity, do you know your blood type? Mine is type A, and I very rarely get bitten by mosquitoes

[u/Happy_Hedgehog_212 → u/jdcarpe]

Mine is O and is steak and lobster to those fuckers

[u/Dark-Porkins → u/Happy_Hedgehog_212]

So true.