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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Flies (Diptera) » "Nematocera" (Non-Brachycera) » Culicomorpha » Mosquitoes (Culicidae) » Toxorhynchites » Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus)
Photo#32928
Mosquito? - Toxorhynchites rutilus - male
Copyright © 2005 Jason Widlacki

Mosquito? - Toxorhynchites rutilus - Male
Newport News, Virginia, USA
September 21, 2005
Size: 1/2"
Is this a male mosquito or a type of fly? If it is a mosquito, it's one of the largest I've seen. Any help with ID is appreciated!

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Mosquito? - Toxorhynchites rutilus - male Mosquito? - Toxorhynchites rutilus - male
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Contributed by Jason Widlacki on 26 September, 2005 - 2:27pm
Last updated 11 October, 2006 - 7:52pm

Tox
Yup, it's a mosquito. It is Toxorhynchites rutilus, also known as the elephant mosquito. It does not bite, and its larvae are predaceous on other mosquito larvae. It lays eggs in "container" habitats, which means it will be eating mostly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
Key features of this genus are: large size, metallic coloration, curved proboscis (hence the genus name).
… Sean McCann, 26 September, 2005 - 5:51pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks
Thanks for your help with ID!
… Jason Widlacki, 27 September, 2005 - 12:15am login or register to post comments

 
Moving to guide
these are nice clear pictures, and our first elephant mosquitos from VA.
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 27 September, 2005 - 7:13am login or register to post comments

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