Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae)

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Miscellaneous Invertebrates Page | Jeff's Nature Pages

Over 150 species in 13 genera are reported for North America. Only the females of certain species actually bite humans.
Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus) Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus), female
Duke Gardens, Durham, NC
9 Aug 2009

Adults of the large and colorful Elephant Mosquitoes feed on flower nectar, not blood, so they do not bite. The larvae actually eat other mosquito larvae, so these are very beneficial mosquitoes!

Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus) Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus), male
Durham, NC
8 Aug 2006

Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus) Elephant Mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus), male
Durham, NC
8 Aug 2006



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Created on ... Aug 19, 2009 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com