Knowledge Takes the Bite Out of Mosquitos for Kids Across Canada
This August 20 marks World Mosquito Day, an annual observance recognized in Canada and around the planet which serves as a useful reminder that mosquitoes are remarkably complex insects. While the occasion may be met with considerably more enthusiasm (a generous statement) in some places than others, residents of mosquito magnets such as Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Ontario might be forgiven for wondering exactly what there is to celebrate. In fact, Manitoba is currently experiencing particularly intense mosquito activity, making the idea of dedicating an entire day to these persistent little bloodsuckers seem silly. Yet perhaps that is precisely what makes World Mosquito Day worthwhile: it offers Canadian parents an opportunity to turn the day into a lesson for children about the often-misunderstood role mosquitoes play in nature. Like most wildlife, mosquitoes are part of a much larger ecosystem. Learning that even an insect we desperately swat and spray to get out of our way throughout the summer has a place in the natural world can be a surprisingly valuable lesson—one that extends well beyond mosquitoes and reminds children that nature does not have to be lovable, convenient or even particularly pleasant to deserve our respect.
The article below will explore some of the unexpected advantages mosquitoes bring to Canada’s ecosystems and why these notoriously annoying insects may deserve a second look. They may never earn quite the same admiration as bees, whose reputation as essential pollinators has made them something of a celebrity among insectes utiles, but understanding what mosquitoes contribute to the food web—and the environments in which they live—may help us appreciate them a little more. No, this doesn’t mean anyone needs to start inviting mosquitoes to the backyard barbecue; rather, it is about recognizing that every living thing has a role, even when that role occasionally involves buzzing around your ear at 2 a.m. And perhaps that is the bigger lesson World Mosquito Day can offer children: appreciation for nature doesn’t have to mean liking everything in it—sometimes it simply means understanding why it belongs there.
Lessons About Mosquitos that Canada’s Kids Are Itching to Learn About
Discovering That Mosquitoes Are Pollinators Too
It may be time to update our list of Pollinators That Your Kids Didn’t Know About to include mosquitoes because they most certainly deserve inclusion. A number of mosquito species (there are about 82 species in Canada) feed on the nectar of flowers and transfer pollen as they move from plant to plant. Mosquitoes can visit a variety of flowering plants, particularly those that thrive in Canadian wetland and northern environments, including orchids, asters, goldenrod and other native wildflowers. While they are certainly not as celebrated as bees, butterflies or hummingbirds, their contribution is another reminder that pollination is a team effort involving far more creatures than we typically recognize. For children, discovering that the same mosquito they instinctively want to swat may also help plants reproduce offers a valuable lesson in ecology: even the smallest and most unpopular creatures can play a meaningful role in keeping Canada’s natural landscapes—and the beautiful plants, flowers and foods connected to them—healthy and thriving.
Understanding That They Feed Animals Your Kids Adore
Mosquitoes are also an important item on the menu for a surprising variety of wildlife. Mosquito larvae provide food for fish, tadpoles, dragonfly larvae and other aquatic creatures, while adult mosquitoes are eaten by insect-loving birds, bats, dragonflies and other creatures. That means some of the animals children are far more likely to find adorable—including little brown bats, tree frogs, swallows, and chickadees—can benefit from having mosquitoes around. It is another wonderfully counterintuitive lesson for kids: the same insect that seems to exist solely to ruin a camping trip can help sustain animals they love, demonstrating how interconnected Canada’s food webs really are.
While scientists have not established a simple cause-and-effect rule showing that fewer mosquitoes automatically make particular Canadian wildlife species less healthy, existing research does demonstrate just how interconnected mosquito populations are with surrounding ecosystems. Researchers studying mosquito biodiversity emphasize that changes in one part of an ecosystem can affect the complex relationships among mosquitoes, birds, mammals and other species. Research on mosquito populations has also found that major human-driven changes—including chemical use and urbanization—can substantially alter mosquito abundance and community composition, with potentially far-reaching consequences for animal communities. For children, the takeaway is not that Canada needs every mosquito to thrive in unlimited numbers, but that removing one seemingly insignificant piece of nature can have consequences that are difficult to predict—an important lesson in why healthy Canadian ecosystems depend upon biodiversity and balance.
Discovering Natural Remedies to Keep Mosquitoes from Biting
Anything parents can do to reduce unnecessary exposure to synthetic chemicals can be a worthwhile lesson for children, and mosquitoes provide an almost perfect real-world example of how nature can sometimes offer alternatives to the challenges it presents. Of course, mosquitoes in Canada are best appreciated from a comfortable distance—they have an unfortunate habit of turning summer barbecues, camping trips and even a peaceful night’s sleep into an itchy endurance test. Rather than teaching children that every nuisance must be solved with the strongest chemical available, however, parents can use mosquito season to introduce them to simple, nature-based ways of making their surroundings less inviting to these persistent pests. It is a lesson that can extend well beyond mosquitoes: sometimes, before reaching for a manufactured solution, it is worth asking what plants, habits or other natural approaches might help.
For a kid-friendly, all-natural approach at home, start by making the yard less attractive to mosquitoes by emptying standing water from buckets, flowerpot saucers, toys and other containers where they can breed. Around patios and outdoor play areas, families can also grow strongly scented herbs such as lavender, basil, mint, rosemary and lemon balm, while using crushed leaves or their fragrances as a gentle reminder that plants have their own defenses. For personal protection, children can help make a simple herbal spray by combining cooled water with a small amount of witch hazel and a few drops of properly diluted essential oils such as citronella ou lavande. They can bottle these items for use at home and may even be able to sell them at a local farmers market!
Quick safety note for parents of younger children: essential oils are highly concentrated, so it’s best to let an adult handle the measuring and mixing before anything goes into a spray bottle, diffuser or other receptacle. Kids can still be part of the fun by helping choose the scents, decorate the bottles and learn how the ingredients work—but leave the actual essential-oil handling to teenagers and grown-ups, and always follow the dilution and safety directions.
The next time your kids overhear someone exclaim, “What are mosquitos for?” ou “Why on earth do mosquitoes even exist?”, they’ll be ready to teach their classmates, teachers and anyone else who will listen a little something about these misunderstood creatures—and their place in the complex, interconnected world we all share.