The mosquito

A mosquito is observed feeding on the neck of a Chinese gecko at Bijia Hill Park in Futian District. Photos by Isaac Cohen

The mosquito

Among Shenzhen’s skyscrapers and urban landscapes, a tiny creature holds great ecological significance: the mosquito. The city’s warm and humid climate is welcoming to mosquitoes, which can easily breed in plenty of ponds, puddles and wetlands.

在深圳的钢筋水泥森林中，有一类“虫小鬼大”的生物，具备着重要的生态意义。它们就是蚊子。这座南国都市温暖潮湿的气候非常适宜蚊子的生存，无论是在池塘、湿地，还是在小水洼中，它们都能迅速繁殖孳生，形成庞大的种群。

These small insects, often viewed as pesky and bothersome, have distinctive long, slender bodies, six legs and two wings.

这种常令人不堪其扰的昆虫外表纤细瘦弱，有三对足和一对翅膀。

While not as efficient as bees or butterflies, some mosquito species contribute to pollination by feeding on plant nectar. As they move from flower to flower, they inadvertently transfer pollen, aiding in the reproduction of various plant species.

信不信由你，虽然不似蜜蜂和蝴蝶般勤劳，蚊子也能够帮助植物授粉。当它们在开花的植株间行动时，长长的腿上总会无意沾上些许花粉，就这样，从一朵花传到另一朵花，接受授粉的植株结成果实和种子，又形成新的植物种群。

A crucial food source for numerous animals, including birds, bats, frogs, lizards and other insects, mosquitoes area vital link in the food chain, contributing to the city’s overall biodiversity.

蚊子是鸟类、蝙蝠、蛙类、蜥蜴及肉食性昆虫的重要食物来源，因此在食物链中扮演着重要的角色，有助于物种多样性的维系。

A mosquito is observed feeding on the back of a frog at Bijia Hill Park in Futian District.

These interesting creatures undergo a complex life cycle. The larvae feed on organic matter and microorganisms present in stagnant water, helping to break down organic debris and contributing to nutrient recycling.

作为完全变态发育昆虫，蚊子拥有复杂的生命周期。它们的幼虫孑孓栖息于静止的水体中，以无机物及微生物为食，有助于分解有机废物，促进养分循环。

Mosquito populations can serve as an indicator of the overall health of ecosystems, whose changes can reflect alterations in water quality, habitat availability, and other ecological factors.

蚊虫种群对水质、栖息空间等生态指标的变化非常敏感，因此也有研究将其作为判断生境是否健康的指示物种。

As they can transmit diseases, it is through their interactions with humans that we become aware of certain diseases, such as dengue fever or the Zika virus. Understanding mosquito behavior, breeding patterns and disease transmission can aid in disease control and help protectpublic health.

库蚊、伊蚊等蚊虫吸食人血，因而成为传播登革热、寨卡病毒等疾病的主要媒介，通过研究蚊子的行为、繁殖模式及其传播病毒的途径，我们可以防患于未然，有效遏制传染病疫情暴发，维护公共卫生安全。

In their quest for a blood meal, mosquitoes also play a role in interacting with animals in Shenzhen’s ecosystems. Female mosquitoes require blood to nourish their eggs, seeking out various hosts, including mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.

有意思的是，雌蚊不仅通过吸食人血来为腹中的卵提供养分，栖息地中的哺乳动物、鸟类、甚至两栖和爬行动物，都会成为它们的吸血对象。

Although irksome and a potential source for disease, these insects nonetheless play a significant role in the local ecosystem dynamics, acting as pollinators, providing a food source for other organisms, aiding in nutrient recycling, and acting as indicators of ecosystem health.

蚊子的振翅声十分聒噪，经其口器叮咬形成的肿块奇痒无比，还会传播多种疾病，看似百害而无一益。但不可否认它们也是维护生态平衡的一份子：为植物授粉、为捕食者提供食物来源、促进水体养分循环，以及作为生态系统健康的指标物种。