I am presently engaged in trying to attract migrating purple martins to my mosquito-infested part of the world and it occured to me that martins might eat other flying insects besides mosquitoes. Like bees. Like my bees. Anyone have any experience in this area?

-- John James (jjames@n-jcenter.com), January 31, 2002

Answers

purple martins dont eat bees

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 31, 2002.

If you want to get rid of mosquitos, put up a bat house...

-- Laura (lauramleek@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002.

John, I have 2 poles of purple martins, and I also have bees. The martins don't bother the bees. Kingbirds eat drones, so watch for them.

-- Judy in IN (whileaway3@cs.com), January 31, 2002.

Barn swallows also like bee's and wasp.

-- Gary in Ohio (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 31, 2002.

I've also heard that Purple Martins very much like Termite Queens, as they emerge to start a new colony. Great birds to have around....I agree, that bats are mroe the mosquito eaters than Martins!

-- Birdlady (A_Birdlady@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

John: Do you know of any good plans to built an economical "bird house" for the martins. The bird houses for sell in my area are too expensive. Ralph.

-- Ralph Roces (rroces1@yahoo.com), February 04, 2002.

Do go for the bat houses. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the only mosquitoes you're ever going to find upon dissecting a Purple Martin are those in the digestive tracts of dragonflies the martins have consumed. In other words, Purple Martins are wonderful creatures, but they are one of the best friends a mosquito could have! It's dragonflies - nad bats - that you want to encourage in order to keep your mozzies under control.

-- Audie (paxtours@alaska.net), February 05, 2002.