Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Maya on 20/04/2009 22:30:02

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Maya on 20/04/2009 22:30:02

Maya asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Naked Scientists,

I am listening to your programme (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) via Secondlife..

I would like to ask a question.. can you tell us why mosquitoes and other insects often swirl and swarm in circles beneath trees during the summer?
What do you think?

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 21/04/2009 01:41:12

I think it might be because mosquitoes don't like to fly far from their breeding area. Are you sure they are mosquitoes?

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Karen W. on 21/04/2009 06:36:58

I think mostly its because there is more moisture under the trees due to te shading from the brances so the undergrowth stays wetter and is a better inviroment for the little stinkers to live in damp dark areas....

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: dentstudent on 21/04/2009 08:39:32

Its likely to be a result of the process of selection. Those that fly out of the swarm have a higher likelihood of being predated and there are therefore fewer of them.

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:11:19

This doesn't only happen under trees. Drive through a marsh area on a summer evening (as I do sometimes on the A13 out of London through  Rainham Marshes in Essex) and you can see columns of mozzies from a mile off or more.

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: dentstudent on 21/04/2009 09:12:54

Quote from: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:11:19

and you can see columns of mozzies from a mile off or more.

Gosh, Don! What big eyes you must have!

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:44:59

Quote from: dentstudent on 21/04/2009 09:12:54

Quote from: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:11:19

and you can see columns of mozzies from a mile off or more.

Gosh, Don! What big eyes you must have!

Now don't start that again! Or have you been reading Little Red Riding Hood again?

Seriously, these columns must contain millions of the blood sucking little gits. I would estimate the columns to be around 1 - 2m wide and maybe 8 - 10m high.

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: dentstudent on 21/04/2009 09:53:11

[;)]

This phenomenon can also be seen on a much larger scale above Lake Victoria, where the columns grow to several hundred metres high. The locals catch them and bake them into a biscuit. Nice, eh?

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:57:06

I never did like Garibaldi's

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Maya on 24/04/2009 00:10:54

Thank you fellow forum participants for the responses to the question so far ;-)
Don_1 is right in saying it actually doesn't only restrict to trees, although one often sees the phenomena there.
They do so even above people's heads...or right in the open...
Could it be some kind of an energy build up.. or means of communication...?

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 24/04/2009 01:45:58

Means of communication, I like that thought! [:)]

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: dentstudent on 24/04/2009 08:51:32

Quote from: Maya on 24/04/2009 00:10:54

Thank you fellow forum participants for the responses to the question so far ;-)
Don_1 is right in saying it actually doesn't only restrict to trees, although one often sees the phenomena there.
They do so even above people's heads...or right in the open...
Could it be some kind of an energy build up.. or means of communication...?

Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 that is exhaled in your breath and so it is natural that there should be a swarm above you.

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: tangoblue on 02/05/2009 23:36:10

Quote from: Don_1 on 21/04/2009 09:11:19

This doesn't only happen under trees. Drive through a marsh area on a summer evening (as I do sometimes on the A13 out of London through  Rainham Marshes in Essex) and you can see columns of mozzies from a mile off or more.

Thats because the swamp is moist and mozzies LOVE moist areas and a swamp to them i imagine would be like heaven on earth... except i wounder what they eat, mozzies i mean.

Title: Why do mosquitoes form circular swarms beneath trees?
Post by: chris on 12/05/2009 00:18:14

Mosquito diets vary according to sex and time of year. Only female mosquitoes drink blood, which they do during the breeding season because they use it as a source of protein to sustain egg-laying. Later in the year, pre-winter, they switch to consuming sugary liquids from fruits, which is what the males eat the rest of the time. This diet switch is called diapause and is in anticipation of the onset of winter. The sugar intake enables the insects to lay down fat reserves which can sustain certain species through winter.

Chris