Toxorhynchites rutilus, also known as the elephant mosquito or treehole predatory mosquito, is a species of mosquito in the family Culicidae. Unlike most species in the genus that populate the tropics, Tx. rutilus is endemic to temperate regions. As their name suggests, these mosquitoes commonly lay their eggs in treeholes where their larvae are predators on a variety of arthropods. As with other mosquitoes, they also inhabit other bodies of stagnant water such as in a tire or artificial containers, but not large bodies of water like ponds and ground pools. Females are able to strategically locate breeding sites that already contain prey to oviposit in.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Elephant Mosquito being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Toxorhynchites moctezuma
- Toxorhynchites theobaldi
- Toxorhynchites brevipalpis
- Toxorhynchites speciosus
- Psorophora longipalpus
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Diptera
- Family
- Culicidae
- Genus
- Toxorhynchites
- Species
- Toxorhynchites rutilus
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