What medieval weaponry to authentically hunt cat-sized mosquitos?

[VisionStorm]

In a world with cat-size mosquitos, large mammals do not exist.

Then neither would the mosquitos, since they need blood to reproduce. If anything, a world with cat-size mosquitos would need at least a substantive giant population for the mosquitos to have enough blood supply to lay their eggs.

 

[Shipyard Locked]

See reply #25, by TristramEvans.

In a world with cat-size mosquitos, large mammals do not exist.

Not with that attitude they don't! Let us posit horse and cow tails that evolved to resemble the urumis pictured above.

 

[lategamer]

In a world with cat-size mosquitos, large mammals do not exist.

in a world with cat size mosquitos, larger predators have to exist or the only things that are left are rotting cat-size mosquitos.

 

[Moracai]

I was going to answer 'traps', but technically traps aren't weapons, I think. But yeah, I'll echo previously mentioned nets and tridents. Also, some specialist equipment would've been invented. I'm looking at my candelabra that holds 6 candles in a triangular base. Stick that on a pole and use a spin'n'shove technique to immobilize them and finish them with shorter weapons.

 

[Agemegos]

So the first step is to smoke them out of their underground burrows...

No, that's for trap-door spiders the size of cattle dogs.

 

[Sharrow]

They're not easy to trap like the wrigglers because they don't feed. But if you do catch a few I'd suggest either wrapping them in banana leaves or encasing them in clay, and then baking them in the coals.

They do need to come up for air, though, just like the wrigglers. I do like your suggestion of baking them in clay. Perhaps coat them in some herbs and spices first, so the flavours can permeate through them as they cook.

 

[Sharrow]

No, that's for trap-door spiders the size of cattle dogs.

That seems a little on the small side. In one of my Traveller games the PCs ran into what they called 'spider-bears'. They were vaguely arachnoid, about the size of a small brawn bear, and hid in trapdoor spider-like holes, from which they'd leap on their prey. Their natural prey was roughly human-sized, so when humans (such as the PCs) walked by, well...

...the PCs ended up with some nice fangs and tusks as trophies.

 

[robertsconley]

Imagine you lived in authentic medieval times and yet (merciful heavens) you had to regularly fight against aggressive mosquitos roughly the size of cats. Keeping in mind that they are airborne, agile, thin, and quick to react, what weapons would you select to combat them? What equipment would you bring along for best results? What combat techniques would you employ?

Spears and polearms preferably in formation.

 

[AsenRG]

Spears and polearms preferably in formation.

What formation against flying enemies? Turtle?

 

[robertsconley]

What formation against flying enemies? Turtle?

Sorry I really couldn't resist

It not meant as a dig at you personally.

Polearms and spear historically could be and were held at an angle while marching. There is not reason in the face of a flying foe like cat sized mosquitos that polearms and spears couldn't be used at a higher angle even vertically.

 

[O'Borg]

My first thought was net, my second was the unpleasentness of getting close enough to use it, so putting it on the end of a pole seemed a good idea.
Which is essentially a giant fly swat, or a lacrosse stick with a larger head.

 

[Agemegos]

That seems a little on the small side.

You'd think so, but when they lack firearms and armoured spacesuits characters who face trap-door spiders any larger than a Rottweiler seem to decide that the goal is to keep them in their burrows rather than to smoke them out.

 

[Skarg]

Probably just 4-6-foot poles, assuming swings from them will break the legs and wings and effectively be kills, even if the poles used are light enough to not be much of a problem if some of your group accidentally bonk each other.

 

[VisionStorm]

Sorry I really couldn't resist
View attachment 52030
It not meant as a dig at you personally.

Polearms and spear historically could be and were held at an angle while marching. There is not reason in the face of a flying foe like cat sized mosquitos that polearms and spears couldn't be used at a higher angle even vertically.

View attachment 52029
View attachment 52031

Question is: would it be effective against small, fast flying creatures with full 3D movement? The reason that spear and polearm formations work against cavalry is that those are large creatures with limited maneuverability charging across a two dimensional plane. You just have to set your pole in place and they'll just run straight onto the pointy end.

Even foot soldiers still present a large enough target and also have to move along a two dimensional plane, so that even if they veer to the side to evade your pole they'll just get stuck by the one besides you in the formation. But cat sized mosquitos will just swarm around you while presenting a much smaller target capable of moving in any direction, making them far more difficult to hit. And once they get pass your pole's pointy end you'll be defenseless against them, with no shield to stop them and no room to maneuver your pole defensively. They'll just swarm around the entire unit and start picking them off, forcing them to break formation.

 

[robertsconley]

Question is: would it be effective against small, fast flying creatures with full 3D movement? The reason that spear and polearm formations work against cavalry is that those are large creatures with limited maneuverability charging across a two dimensional plane. You just have to set your pole in place and they'll just run straight onto the pointy end.

I wouldn't try using pikes but halberds and spears sure.

Even foot soldiers still present a large enough target and also have to move along a two dimensional plane, so that even if they veer to the side to evade your pole they'll just get stuck by the one besides you in the formation. But cat sized mosquitos will just swarm around you while presenting a much smaller target capable of moving in any direction, making them far more difficult to hit. And once they get pass your pole's pointy end you'll be defenseless against them, with no shield to stop them and no room to maneuver your pole defensively. They'll just swarm around the entire unit and start picking them off, forcing them to break formation.

If cat-sized mosquitos were a thing, I am sure seasoned warriors would figure out a formation for the job. Likely something like a zone defense in basketball where each man in the formation is trained to protect the area above them including being aware of the areas of those around them. Unless they are closer to the edge in which case the bubble would extend outwards. If it was a one on one fight it is usually the animal that lost out when an armed human was involved. Especially when we are talking cat-sized and not something like a grizzly bear.

While boffer fantasy LARP combat isn't realistic in any sense of the word what is instructive that the best groups of players get to where they are because they are able to figure out tactics to deal with whatever strangeness the plot team running the event throws out at them. Things that are not intuitive at first glance but have been tried and worked.

In the case of cat-size mosquitos you want to keep them as far away as possible and that means using weapons with reach. They will be relatively quick so you need to use weapons that are maneuverable which means you don't want to use reach weapons that are too long so halberds and spears. If there is more than one and sense we are pushing the idea they are big mosquitos, then they will be in a disorganized swarm. Which means a specific formation would need to be developed and used.

If it is one warrior you still want the reach, but like facing any largeish animal that operates in concert there is a number of attackers beyond which where the only recourse is to run away or get into a shelter. Below that you want to keep your attackers away but still have a chance to kill them hence a reach weapon that is not too long.

 

[VisionStorm]

I wouldn't try using pikes but halberds and spears sure.


If cat-sized mosquitos were a thing, I am sure seasoned warriors would figure out a formation for the job. Likely something like a zone defense in basketball where each man in the formation is trained to protect the area above them including being aware of the areas of those around them. Unless they are closer to the edge in which case the bubble would extend outwards. If it was a one on one fight it is usually the animal that lost out when an armed human was involved. Especially when we are talking cat-sized and not something like a grizzly bear.

While boffer fantasy LARP combat isn't realistic in any sense of the word what is instructive that the best groups of players get to where they are because they are able to figure out tactics to deal with whatever strangeness the plot team running the event throws out at them. Things that are not intuitive at first glance but have been tried and worked.

In the case of cat-size mosquitos you want to keep them as far away as possible and that means using weapons with reach. They will be relatively quick so you need to use weapons that are maneuverable which means you don't want to use reach weapons that are too long so halberds and spears. If there is more than one and sense we are pushing the idea they are big mosquitos, then they will be in a disorganized swarm. Which means a specific formation would need to be developed and used.

If it is one warrior you still want the reach, but like facing any largeish animal that operates in concert there is a number of attackers beyond which where the only recourse is to run away or get into a shelter. Below that you want to keep your attackers away but still have a chance to kill them hence a reach weapon that is not too long.

All of this assumes that seasoned warriors will be able to figure out an effective formation with just their seasoning alone, which itself assumes that such a formation is possible and that facing a swarm of small fast flying creatures with poles tightly pressed together would be effective. Except that only works against humans and cavalry because given their movement capabilities and body dimensions there's simply no way for them to get around a pole set to receive a charge without getting poked first. That's what gives poles such an advantage.

But that advantage only works against frontal assault and wouldn't exist against small creatures capable of moving around the pole in any direction. Historically pole formations would get obliterated by flanking opponents, cuz it's difficult change direction for a whole group of poles, and that would leave them exposed to whatever enemy they were originally facing even if they could.

And these opponents would be able to not just flank, but move around, up or down, the pole's pointy end. And once they're pass that end there'd be nothing could do against them cuz you've got no shield and the bodies from all the people pressed against you in the formation would prevent you from bashing the mosquitos with the other end of your pole (what you'd normally have to do if someone managed to move pass your pole's head and was closing in on you). Even in a porcupine formation you'd still have to deal with the fact that these opponents can move ever which way, even high and around you, were you couldn't move your pole with a bunch of people pressed against you.

You'd be better off on your own if you have a spear or halberd to fight against cat sized mosquitos than with a bunch of people pressed around you, preventing you from spinning that pole around and swinging it all over the place, as you'd have to when fighting such an enemy.

 

[Sharrow]

Even foot soldiers still present a large enough target and also have to move along a two dimensional plane, so that even if they veer to the side to evade your pole they'll just get stuck by the one besides you in the formation. But cat sized mosquitos will just swarm around you while presenting a much smaller target capable of moving in any direction, making them far more difficult to hit. And once they get pass your pole's pointy end you'll be defenseless against them, with no shield to stop them and no room to maneuver your pole defensively. They'll just swarm around the entire unit and start picking them off, forcing them to break formation.

Textile armour will stop them pretty well, so they'll be forced to go for the face. Meanwhile, even a gloved hand will be able to smash their wings and knock them to the ground, where upon they can be stomped. And they have limited manoeuvrability when trying to close with men in a closely packed formation. At best, they'd be a 'spoiler', distracting men and making the formation a bit ragged, perhaps allowing an enemy unit an advantage if it charges while the mozzies are swarming. Now, how do you get the mozzies to swarm only the other side?

 

[AsenRG]

Sorry I really couldn't resist
View attachment 52030
It not meant as a dig at you personally.

Polearms and spear historically could be and were held at an angle while marching. There is not reason in the face of a flying foe like cat sized mosquitos that polearms and spears couldn't be used at a higher angle even vertically.

View attachment 52029
View attachment 52031

I wouldn't try using pikes but halberds and spears sure.


If cat-sized mosquitos were a thing, I am sure seasoned warriors would figure out a formation for the job. Likely something like a zone defense in basketball where each man in the formation is trained to protect the area above them including being aware of the areas of those around them. Unless they are closer to the edge in which case the bubble would extend outwards. If it was a one on one fight it is usually the animal that lost out when an armed human was involved. Especially when we are talking cat-sized and not something like a grizzly bear.

While boffer fantasy LARP combat isn't realistic in any sense of the word what is instructive that the best groups of players get to where they are because they are able to figure out tactics to deal with whatever strangeness the plot team running the event throws out at them. Things that are not intuitive at first glance but have been tried and worked.

In the case of cat-size mosquitos you want to keep them as far away as possible and that means using weapons with reach. They will be relatively quick so you need to use weapons that are maneuverable which means you don't want to use reach weapons that are too long so halberds and spears. If there is more than one and sense we are pushing the idea they are big mosquitos, then they will be in a disorganized swarm. Which means a specific formation would need to be developed and used.

If it is one warrior you still want the reach, but like facing any largeish animal that operates in concert there is a number of attackers beyond which where the only recourse is to run away or get into a shelter. Below that you want to keep your attackers away but still have a chance to kill them hence a reach weapon that is not too long.

Ah, but is it me showing two-dimensional thinking? Because what I'm seeing is you ascribing two-dimensional thinking to the creatures.

Sorry, man, but these are flying cat-sized monsters. To protect against them, you have to cover the front, the back, the sides and the top of your formation...simultaneously.
That's five sides vs one you'd have to cover against normal threats that formations are made to deal with. IMO, it would simply require more men than you can fit within the space of a formation. And also "far more people than you have in an average adventuring party".
Unless you mean something like a well-trained team of say 10 people...so you'd have two spears/polearms covering each of the five directions so outlined. Not too much, when you have to cover enough space to protect yourself and ~4 more people (your buddy that covers that side is covering the other 5).

Also, with that much swinging, it's not a formation, it's a skirmishing group that trained together. Kinda like those boffer LARP teams you mentioned, probably.

Textile armour will stop them pretty well, so they'll be forced to go for the face.

Assuming that textile armour would stop them, you wouldn't even need a formation...

But would it? I have been pricked by regular-sized mosquitoes through summer clothes, and those aren't even as dangerous as the mosquitoes they've got in places like Africa and Asia (they don't transmit malaria, for starters).
What would a cat-sized one be able to do, with something like a thousandfold increase in size?

 

[Toadmaster]

Why does everybody assume cat size mosquitos would be quick and nimble? Regular size mosquitos are neither. They are small and often swarm making them hard to target, but they are much easier to swat than flies.

 

[robertsconley]

Also, with that much swinging, it's not a formation, it's a skirmishing group that trained together. Kinda like those boffer LARP teams you mentioned, probably.

I expect the result will probably look like a pin cushion packed with pins if a swarm is attacking from all sides. As for needing to swing as you and V VisionStorm mentioned the point of a formation is that each man is expected to cover his designated position in concert with his teammates. It will be organized in a way that a semi-sphere will be covered by the folks in the formation with each covering small areas that overlap.

This is a general principle that all melee formation operates regards the specifics of weaponry. The fact that the attack is coming from all directions means that everybody in the formation will have to participate in the defense rather than the first two or three ranks.So they will plan and train accordingly.

 

[Agemegos]

Assuming that textile armour would stop them, you wouldn't even need a formation...

We are supposed to be authentically hunting these. They are small game, about the size of a goose. Even if a goose had a knife, I doubt it would have the strength to drive it through a padded gambeson.

If we needed a military formation to survive contact with the game it wouldn’t be hunting, it’d be war. Phalanxes are for seeing off an invasion by a neighbouring city, not for catching dinner. (I’ve heard of formation hunting with spear and shield to take down lions, but that’s a marginally-insane display of machismo and bravura, not authentic hunting.)

But would it? I have been pricked by regular-sized mosquitoes through summer clothes, and those aren't even as dangerous as the mosquitoes they've got in places like Africa and Asia (they don't transmit malaria, for starters).
What would a cat-sized one be able to do, with something like a thousandfold increase in size?

A mosquito can push its proboscis between the fibres of light woven cloth without having to break any of the fibres. These things have a proboscis a hundred times as wide. Figure their bite as being like getting pecked by a goose.

 

[robertsconley]

Why does everybody assume cat size mosquitos would be quick and nimble? Regular size mosquitos are neither. They are small and often swarm making them hard to target, but they are much easier to swat than flies.

Even there were quick and nimble there is a reason why nimble light armor warriors with weapons like swords that could be used quicker don't prevail against phalanxes and pike formations.

 

[VisionStorm]

Why does everybody assume cat size mosquitos would be quick and nimble? Regular size mosquitos are neither.

In my experience they are, and I have to deal with them every day, so I have regular experience.

They are small and often swarm making them hard to target, but they are much easier to swat than flies.

Flies are more difficult to hit because they have an eye in the back of their head (which mosquitos don't have) alerting them of threats, not because they're faster than mosquitos. And even without that extra eye mosquitos can be pretty alert and slippery. I often slap my hand fast against the wall only to find the mosquito's already gone once I move my hand away despite slapping it right where the mosquito was. When I try to slap one in my arm or leg, any movement can alert it and set it flying away before my palm reaches it.

I expect the result will probably look like a pin cushion packed with pins if a swarm is attacking from all sides. As for needing to swing as you and V VisionStorm mentioned the point of a formation is that each man is expected to cover his designated position in concert with his teammates.

Which is possible in real life formations against regular land-based troops because you only have to cover the front. Here you'd have to cover the front, back, sides and top all at the same time, which would be impossible, and fails to account for the likelihood of at least some of these small sized creatures slipping through in ways that larger, land bound creatures wouldn't be able to.

It will be organized in a way that a semi-sphere will be covered by the folks in the formation with each covering small areas that overlap.

This is a general principle that all melee formation operates regards the specifics of weaponry. The fact that the attack is coming from all directions means that everybody in the formation will have to participate in the defense rather than the first two or three ranks.So they will plan and train accordingly.

All of this assumes that you'd be able to cram enough people closely together to effectively cover an entire semi-sphere and still have enough swinging room to maneuver all poles without everyone getting in the way of each other, tightly enough for few or no small creatures to get through.

 

[robertsconley]

Which is possible in real life formations against regular land-based troops because you only have to cover the front. Here you'd have to cover the front, back, sides and top all at the same time, which would be impossible, and fails to account for the likelihood of at least some of these small sized creatures slipping through in ways that larger, land bound creatures wouldn't be able to.

Folks thourghout history dealt with this issue.

The Pike Square
which is a variant of
The Infantry Square

And before you go


The center would not be hollow but filled with people whose job is to defend from above.

All of this assumes that you'd be able to cram enough people closely together to effectively cover an entire semi-sphere and still have enough swinging room to maneuver all poles without everyone getting in the way of each other, tightly enough for few or no small creatures to get through.

Look you obviously don't have an understanding of how formation fighting works for melee weapons. It is about the thrust, not the swing. And when there is swinging, the troops are trained to keep the range of motion limited and rely on the fact their blind spots are covered by others in the formation.

The OP said they are cat sized winged creatures. That is not small for this situation. If we are talking mouse sized mosquitos then sure there will be some big issues here and you would be better of developing better armor/barriers.

Moreso there is no law that says that formations has to have one weapons. You can have people with stabbing swords mixed in to take care of any that break through. The Spanish Tericos were famously combined arms formations.

 

[AsenRG]

We are supposed to be authentically hunting these. They are small game, about the size of a goose. Even if a goose had a knife, I doubt it would have the strength to drive it through a padded gambeson.

Sure, but that's because a goose's muscles aren't strong enough. Insects can be stronger than mammals of the same size, and besides, the jaws of many species have a higher strength than their muscles...including humans. Most people's bite is probably stronger than their punch...and even Tyson decided to use his jaw muscles when he was losing, as we all remember!

If we needed a military formation to survive contact with the game it wouldn’t be hunting, it’d be war. Phalanxes are for seeing off an invasion by a neighbouring city, not for catching dinner. (I’ve heard of formation hunting with spear and shield to take down lions, but that’s a marginally-insane display of machismo and bravura, not authentic hunting.)

I completely agree, but wargamers like formations...

A mosquito can push its proboscis between the fibres of light woven cloth without having to break any of the fibres. These things have a proboscis a hundred times as wide. Figure their bite as being like getting pecked by a goose.

Well, guess that depends on whether the GM agrees with you or with me on the armour issue. I look at it like this, insects are notoriously strong for their size. That would diminish as they grow, but it's going to be still real damn strong, so at about 5 kgs, let's give them a bite only equal to a dog that's a bit heavier: the Sheltie, at 7-9 kgs.
And that's a normal dog's bite, at 200-400 PSI.
Now multiply this by the fact that the proboscis is still going to be thinner than most knives, and you'd see why I'm not sure that textile armour would work all that well. It might, but wouldn't be guaranteed...

Even there were quick and nimble there is a reason why nimble light armor warriors with weapons like swords that could be used quicker don't prevail against phalanxes and pike formations.

1) Thought you're not talking pikes, but active-use spears?
2) Swords are held by men who are, generally, not flying and bigger than cat-sized...so easier to stab.

In my experience they are, and I have to deal with them every day, so I have regular experience.



Flies are more difficult to hit because they have an eye in the back of their head (which mosquitos don't have) alerting them of threats, not because they're faster than mosquitos. And even without that extra eye mosquitos can be pretty alert and slippery. I often slap my hand fast against the wall only to find the mosquito's already gone once I move my hand away despite slapping it right where the mosquito was. When I try to slap one in my arm or leg, any movement can alert it and set it flying away before my palm reaches it.



Which is possible in real life formations against regular land-based troops because you only have to cover the front. Here you'd have to cover the front, back, sides and top all at the same time, which would be impossible, and fails to account for the likelihood of at least some of these small sized creatures slipping through in ways that larger, land bound creatures wouldn't be able to.



All of this assumes that you'd be able to cram enough people closely together to effectively cover an entire semi-sphere and still have enough swinging room to maneuver all poles without everyone getting in the way of each other, tightly enough for few or no small creatures to get through.

Yeah, I'm with you on that account.

Folks thourghout history dealt with this issue.

The Pike Square
which is a variant of
The Infantry Square

And before you go

View attachment 52086
The center would not be hollow but filled with people whose job is to defend from above.

Again, too many people for an adventuring party.

Look you obviously don't have an understanding of how formation fighting works for melee weapons. It is about the thrust, not the swing.

Exactly. But you obviously aren't picturing how to fight a smaller, flying opponent. It would need to be about the swing, not the trust...or else you're not going to land.
Even a normal cat would be hard to hit with a stabbing weapon. A flying cat? Yeah...a swinging weapon and decent armour would be a better bet IMO.

And when there is swinging, the troops are trained to keep the range of motion limited and rely on the fact their blind spots are covered by others in the formation.

Yup. And the problem is in cramming enough people that they could do so from all directions.

The OP said they are cat sized winged creatures. That is not small for this situation. If we are talking mouse sized mosquitos then sure there will be some big issues here and you would be better of developing better armor/barriers.

Moreso there is no law that says that formations has to have one weapons. You can have people with stabbing swords mixed in to take care of any that break through. The Spanish Tericos were famously combined arms formations.

The tercios were also fighting human-sized opponents.

 

[Fenris-77]

 

[VisionStorm]

Exactly. But you obviously aren't picturing how to fight a smaller, flying opponent. It would need to be about the swing, not the trust...or else you're not going to land.
Even a normal cat would be hard to hit with a stabbing weapon. A flying cat? Yeah...a swinging weapon and decent armour would be a better bet IMO.

Exactly. Which is why I keep mentioning swinging in my replies to robertsconley. Mosquitos can fly wildly in all directions, and we're talking cat sized mosquitos, not cow sized. If they were the size of a cow, then sure, a porcupine formation with lots of thrusting would probably work, since they'd be too large to slip through. In that case polearms would be my first choice. But you're probably not gonna hit a cat sized mosquito with a trust. Which means that you're gonna have to start swinging like crazy to actually hit one.

 

[Agemegos]

Sure, but that's because a goose's muscles aren't strong enough. Insects can be stronger than mammals of the same size

Umm. No. Insects are often strong in proportion to their mass because of the square-cube law. Scale a mosquito up to the size of a cat and realistically it wouldn't be strong enough to move its own limbs.

the jaws of many species have a higher strength than their muscles

Mosquitos don't bite with jaws. They just push the tip of their proboscis in.

 

[VisionStorm]

View attachment 52087

Whaaat?!?

We're having a serious discussion about how too handle the very real and eminent threat of a cat sized mosquito infestation here! Try to be constructive, please!

 

[Fenris-77]

We have been, as a group, both serious and silly in turns here. Nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[Telok]

View attachment 52087

 

[Shipyard Locked]

All this talk of formations may be overlooking a crucial issue: terrain.

Formations may be fine and dandy when you're defending the village, but what if you need to hunt them down in their swampy nesting grounds!?

 

[Zebraman]

How aggressive are these creatures exactly? Do they fight in swarms and are they hunting the humans or the livestock, or only aggressive because they are territorial?

If we're talking territorial creatures that are quick, strong, swarm and are a danger to humans particularly children then the best way of dealing with them is probably just move house :-)

If upping sticks and moving isn't viable then fire and smoke would probably work. Medieval weaponry was entirely developed because of the context of who the warriors were fighting so it's not unlikely that insecticides and herbal mosquito repellent such as citronella oil would probably be developed much earlier. Indeed in such a world it's likely far more plants and animals would have developed such defences.

Humans should be able to win the arms race in terms of protection agains the proboscis tongue however powerful or sharp it is in this scenario, so wear whatever the minimum armour needed to prevent getting skewered and drained....

Depending on the fragility of the wings potentially a light flail of some kind would be nimble and flexible enough to make short work of an individual mosquito especially if combined with a shield.

 

[TristramEvans]

Welcome to The Pub Z Zebraman !

 

[Agemegos]

All this talk of formations may be overlooking a crucial issue: terrain.

Formations may be fine and dandy when you're defending the village

Formations are fine and dandy when you are defending the village against another terrestrial force. Flying foes simply fly over your phalanx and prey upon the livestock and children in your rear areas — the phalanx has no way to force the mosquitos to engage, and can't protect anything except itself.

How aggressive are these creatures exactly? Do they fight in swarms and are they hunting the humans or the livestock, or only aggressive because they are territorial?

My reading of the OP and thread title is that the humans are hunting them.

That would be either for food or to abate a threat to livestock.

 

[Zebraman]

Welcome to The Pub Z Zebraman !

Cheers!

Formations are fine and dandy when you are defending the village against another terrestrial force. Flying foes simply fly over your phalanx and prey upon the livestock and children in your rear areas — the phalanx has no way to force the mosquitos to engage, and can't protect anything except itself.


My reading of the OP and thread title is that the humans are hunting them.

That would be either for food or to abate a threat to livestock.

Which actually adds another dimension. If the mosquitoes are being hunted because they are a threat I am guessing the attempt would be made to hunt them to extinction. Probably attacking their eggs or larvae stage would be the best tactic.

 

[Agemegos]

Which actually adds another dimension. If the mosquitoes are being hunted because they are a threat I am guessing the attempt would be made to hunt them to extinction. Probably attacking their eggs or larvae stage would be the best tactic.

And when your palate tires of mosquito-egg omlettes and giant wrigglers Thermidor, you can try burning their habitat to the ground.

 

[Shipyard Locked]

My reading of the OP and thread title is that the humans are hunting them.

That would be either for food or to abate a threat to livestock.

Honestly, when I wrote the first post I was thinking purely about abating a threat, but the food angle has been so interesting (in a ghastly way) that I didn't feel like cutting it off.

 

[Sharrow]

How aggressive are these creatures exactly? Do they fight in swarms and are they hunting the humans or the livestock, or only aggressive because they are territorial?

If we're talking territorial creatures that are quick, strong, swarm and are a danger to humans particularly children then the best way of dealing with them is probably just move house :-)

Historically speaking, the traditional solution is habitat destruction. That makes them move house, saving you the bother.

 

[AsenRG]

Historically speaking, the traditional solution is habitat destruction. That makes them move house, saving you the bother.

Swamp-draining? How feasible is that in a low-tech society?

Umm. No. Insects are often strong in proportion to their mass because of the square-cube law. Scale a mosquito up to the size of a cat and realistically it wouldn't be strong enough to move its own limbs.

Well, these insects can even fight an armed human, obviously, so there's probably something they've figured during evolution that you're missing!

Mosquitos don't bite with jaws. They just push the tip of their proboscis in.

True that, but the muscles that move the head can also be insanely strong (the head can often be supported by the whole body). I was just comparing them to bites because of the location of the proboscis - as a shortcut, basically. Admittedly, then I got kinda carried away...something that very rarely happens on the Pub!
(Also, I didn't find info on headbutt power, which makes determining armour-piercing abilities of them kinda hard. About the only thing googling it showed me is that there's a line of products called Newton's Headbutt!)