In these ecology-minded days, we are constantly reminded that everything has its place, and to disturb a single thread in Nature's fabric is to risk unraveling us all. Every link in the food chain is vital, we learn. Yet, during the moist days of early summer, it is difficult to find even the most dedicated environmentalist who will stand up for the pesky mosquito. Since we'll never know, I'd like to list just a couple of the more interesting comments that I received. Dr. Mark Oswood, a biologist with the University's Institute of Arctic Biology, agrees that the aquatic stages of the mosquito are probably when they are the most valuable in the animal food chain, and he also includes wading birds such as cranes as animals whose diets they supplement.
Mosquitoes are also important pollinators, as a large part of their diet consists of plant nectar.
I forgot to ask what they transformed my blood into.