Elephant Mosquito
Toxorhynchites rutilus
This record describes Toxorhynchites rutilus (species). Recorded family: Culicidae. Recorded order: Diptera.
Identification and Appearance
Female and male Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory - FMEL Very large, for a mosquito. Body is covered with shiny metallic blue scales. Proboscis prominent and curved upwards. Attracted to flowers. Predatory mosquitoes in the genus Toxorhynchites are the most common arthropods which have been used for control of container-breeding mosquitoes. The combination of carnivorous larvae and innocuous adults is very attractive in biological control. Successful biological control has been reported using Toxorhynchites species from Japan, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the United States.
Wikipedia reference for Toxorhynchites rutilus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxorhynchites_rutilus.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Deciduous and other forests. Breeds in tree holes and artificial containers
Geographic Range
e US ( TX -FL-NY-KS) (Goettle and Adler 2005),(Jenkins 1949),
Seasonal Activity
July-September, early October (North Carolina)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Adults take nectar. Larvae feed on aquatic insects, especially other species of mosquites, becoming cannibalistic sometimes.
Life History
Adults are day-fliers Overwinter as late-instar larvae or as adult (southern part of range?). Has been reared for biological control.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Species name rutilus is Latin for "red with hints of yellow". Rutile is a titanium ore, and perhaps that is more the reference--the color of the mosquito is rather metallic (Internet searches).
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Diptera, the group containing Toxorhynchites rutilus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Diptera includes over 150,000 described species of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on Earth (CDC). Malaria alone causes ~249 million cases and over 608,000 deaths annually, mostly children under 5 (WHO). Vector-borne diseases account for over 17% of all infectious diseases, causing 700,000+ deaths per year.
Ecological role of the group
Despite their disease impact, flies are critical decomposers and pollinators. Hoverflies alone pollinate hundreds of crop and wildflower species. Flies are also the primary food source for many birds, bats, and fish. Forensic entomology relies heavily on fly species for crime scene analysis.
Economic and practical significance of the group
In the U.S., vector-borne disease cases tripled between 2004-2016, with over 640,000 cases reported in that period (CDC). Tickborne diseases doubled from 22,000 to 48,000 annual reports. Globally, mosquito-borne diseases cost billions in healthcare and lost productivity.
Recorded sources for this group: WHO, CDC, PNAS. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Elephant Mosquito (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Elephant Mosquito
What is Elephant Mosquito?
Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus) is a species in the family Culicidae, within the order Diptera.
How big is Elephant Mosquito?
Wingspan circa 12 mm, body length circa 7 mm
How do you identify Elephant Mosquito?
Female and male Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory - FMEL Very large, for a mosquito. Body is covered with shiny metallic blue scales. Proboscis prominent and curved upwards. Attracted to flowers.
Where is Elephant Mosquito found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Deciduous and other forests. Breeds in tree holes and artificial containers |
| Range | e US ( TX -FL-NY-KS) (Goettle and Adler 2005),(Jenkins 1949) |
What does Elephant Mosquito eat?
The diet of the Elephant Mosquito includes Adults take nectar. Larvae feed on aquatic insects, especially other species of mosquites, becoming cannibalistic sometimes..
When is Elephant Mosquito active?
Elephant Mosquito: seasonal activity - July-September, early October (North Carolina).
What is the life cycle of a Elephant Mosquito?
Adults are day-fliers Overwinter as late-instar larvae or as adult (southern part of range?). Has been reared for biological control.