Friday, April 23, 2010

Elephant Mosquito


Elephant Mosquitoes in the genus Toxorhynchites are found throughout the Eastern United States, especially in the southeast. These are very large mosquitoes, which has probably earned them the common name of Elephant Mosquito. They will measure up to 1/2 inch in length and have shiny metallic scales. Their proboscis is very prominent and curved and used for nectaring at flowers. Their legs are extremely long.

(Photo by: Steve Scott)

The females will lay their eggs in small cavities containing water. This could be in trees, old tires, bird baths, etc. They will overwinter as late nearly grown larvae or as very young adults. The larvae feed on other mosquito larvae, making them beneficial to humans. Humans have nothing to fear from these mosquitoes as they do not feed on or bite humans. Which is a very good thing considering the size of their proboscis; that would be some painful bite if they did! 

  (Photo By: Steve Scott)

  A good friend of mine wrote the following verse about this incredible insects:

Elephant Mosquito

He flies around with no regrets-
Oughta keep his name incognito
Although an elephant never forgets
He forgets he's just a mosquito

By: Richard Lewin

10 comments:

  1. Cute verse! I had one of these guys in my kitchen tonight; he had come in when I opened the door earlier. But no worries, he was ushered safely back outside to the garden, and I hope he is now eating his fill of mosquito larvae out there. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love these little mosquitoes, I see them a lot throughout the summer, but I've not seen any yet this year. The ones pictured here were taken last year. I like the fact that you ushered her back outside to feed on those nasty larvae.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting blog. Will do some reading - Zane

    ReplyDelete
  4. Greetings from California! I'm always happy to discover another bug blogger! Your pictures a great. Please come visit my bug blog when you get a chance.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Cindy, it is always nice to see a new face around here. I love meeting fellow bug lovers and I will hop over to your blog and give it a look see. Thanks for visiting :o)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you Zane, hope you like what you see and read. I love seeing new faces around here.

    ReplyDelete
  7. i've sent your blog over to my granddaughter (10) who is fascinated by the 'lowly' mosquito.... she keeps wanting to take the jars of mosquito larvae home .... mommy says NO!!! we have some insects that look like a larger version of the mosquito.. will have to see if we have Elephant mosquitoes here on the west coast!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm so glad to hear that your granddaughter is a current and future bug lover. I'm impressed with her interest in Mosquitoes. They are so unloved by most people. It takes those rare few that are fascinated by them, to study them. Much is to be learned by them. After all malaria kills more people each year than any other disease. I'm not sure I would want mosquito larvae in my house either, but I would definitely encourage her interest in them. Who knows she might grow up and become an entomologist and study mosquitoes. I'm not sure if there are elephant mosquitoes on the west coast or not, most information I found about them stated they were an eastern species. Let me know if you find some that reside in your neck of the woods, I'd be curious to know.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Paula, I hope you have an amazing week also!

    ReplyDelete