Purple Martin fact or fiction (1 Viewer)

[timvid]

It's generally believed that purple martins are great predators of mosquitos. But I've heard that, in reality, they're great predators of dragonflies, and if that's true, they're actually counter-productive to controlling dragonflies, since dragonflies really are mosquito-eaters. Anyone know if they're really the mosquito eliminators most people think they are?

Tim

 

[Katy Penland]

From everything I've read, Purple Martins are not considered good mosquito "controls" because mosquitos comprise only about 2% of their diet and that they do eat dragonflies. But I don't know if there are any studies show that Purple Martins (1) have an unsustainably adverse effect on dragonfly populations or that (2) whatever numbers of dragonflies they do eat has a correspondingly positive effect on mosquito population growth. (Positive from the mosquito's point of view. )

I've further read that the oft-quoted statistic that martins can eat 2000 mosquitoes a day is a deliberate mislead. They can eat that many; fact is, they don't. :t:

 

[jgrnot]

Purple martins

I am a fan of purple martins, however I have only seen a few in the wild. I am also aware that their numbers are stable, but I wanted to verify this as well as if they are easily attractable if you live near a pond? Does anyone out there have frequent visits from them?