@colinpurrington@flipping.rocks
2026-07-23 13:07 UTC
@etp@indieweb.social I wasn't able to find any primary literature documenting that flycatchers eat mosquitoes. Plenty of websites asserting they do. That could be based on observations or perhaps inferred from the genus name (Empidonx: “gnat or mosquito master”). Descriptions say they are really good at picking insects off of foliage and that's certainly where you'd find mosquitoes for most of the day. Sorry I can't be more definitive either way.
Replies (2)
-
@colinpurrington@flipping.rocks 2026-07-23 13:22
@etp@indieweb.social UPDATE: Just found a paper titled, "Biological control of mosquitoes by insectivorous flycatcher birds" ... but I can't locate the text (for free, that is). "The birds are highly motivated, efficient and cost effective pest controller." https://indianjournals.com/article/jer-37-4-014
-
@etp@indieweb.social 2026-07-23 14:05
@colinpurrington@flipping.rocks Sorryi didn’t mean to nerdsnipe you like that. I was being lazy. What I should have said was: I find it amazing that a flycatcher can replace the energy it takes to fly from its perch to catch an insect with the energy contained in the insect. Edited to correct stupid typo.