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''Toxorhynchites'', also called elephant mosquito or mosquito eater, is a 
''Toxorhynchites''
at the
Video showing larvae of ''Toxorhynchites rutilus'' feeding on other mosquito larvae
{{Taxonbar, from=Q137785 Mosquito genera Taxa named by Frederick Vincent Theobald
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of diurnal and often relatively colorful mosquito
Mosquitoes (or mosquitos) are members of a group of almost 3,600 species of small flies within the family Culicidae (from the Latin ''culex'' meaning " gnat"). The word "mosquito" (formed by ''mosca'' and diminutive ''-ito'') is Spanish for "li ...
es, found worldwide
Worldwide may refer to:
* Pertaining to the entire world
* Worldwide (rapper) (born 1986), American rapper
* Pitbull (rapper) (born 1981), also known as Mr. Worldwide, American rapper
* ''Worldwide'' (Audio Adrenaline album), 2003
* ''Worldwide' ...
between about 35° north and 35° south. Most species occur in forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
s. It includes the largest known species of mosquito, at up to in length and in wingspan. It is among the many kinds of mosquito that do not consume blood. The adults subsist on carbohydrate
In organic chemistry, a carbohydrate () is a biomolecule consisting of carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) atoms, usually with a hydrogen–oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 (as in water) and thus with the empirical formula (where ''m'' may or ma ...
-rich materials, such as honeydew, or saps and juices from damaged plants, refuse
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials. Waste is any substance discarded after primary use, or is worthless, defective and of no use. A by-product, by contrast is a joint product of relatively minor economic value. A waste produ ...
, fruit, and nectar
Nectar is a sugar-rich liquid produced by plants in glands called nectaries or nectarines, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to animal mutualists ...
.
Mating in mid-air, males and females synchronize their wing beats to the same frequency. Eggs are deposited by flinging them onto water surfaces while hovering. They are either white or yellow in color, with an incubation period of 40–60 hours depending on the temperature. The older the female mosquito, the less likely the eggs will be healthy.
In contrast to blood-sucking species of mosquitoes, their larva
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
e prey on the larvae of other mosquitoes and similar nekton
Nekton or necton (from the ) refers to the actively swimming aquatic organisms in a body of water. The term was proposed by German biologist Ernst Haeckel to differentiate between the active swimmers in a body of water, and the passive organisms ...
ic prey, making ''Toxorhynchites'' beneficial to humans. Living on this protein- and fat-rich diet, they have no need to risk their lives sucking blood in adulthood, having already accumulated the necessary materials for oogenesis
Oogenesis, ovogenesis, or oögenesis is the differentiation of the ovum (egg cell) into a cell competent to further develop when fertilized. It is developed from the primary oocyte by maturation. Oogenesis is initiated in the embryonic stage.
O ...
and vitellogenesis
Vitellogenesis is the process of yolk protein formation in the oocytes of non mammalian vertebrates during sexual maturation. The term ''vitellogenesis'' comes from the Latin ''vitellus'' ("egg yolk"). Yolk proteins, such as Lipovitellin and Phosv ...
. The larvae of one jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...
variety, '' Toxorhynchites splendens'', consume larvae of other mosquito species occurring in tree crevices, particularly ''Aedes aegypti
''Aedes aegypti'', the yellow fever mosquito, is a mosquito that can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, Mayaro and yellow fever viruses, and other disease agents. The mosquito can be recognized by black and white markings on its legs ...
''.
Environmental scientists
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geograp ...
have suggested that ''Toxorhynchites'' mosquitoes be introduced to areas outside their natural range in order to fight dengue fever
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms typically begin three to fourteen days after infection. These may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characterist ...
. This has been practiced historically, but errors have been made. For example, when intending to introduce ''T. splendens'' to new areas, scientists actually introduced ''T. amboinensis''. Also an extinct species '' T. mexicanus'' is known from Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
aged Mexican Amber
Mexican amber, also known as Chiapas Amber is amber found in Mexico, created during the Early Miocene and middle Miocene epochs of the Cenozoic Era in southwestern North America. As with other ambers, a wide variety of taxa have been found as inc ...
.
Species
The genus ''Toxorhynchites'' is divided into 4 subgenera and contains 90 species also included 1 extinct species: *'' Toxorhynchites bambusicola'' *'' Toxorhynchites brevipalpis'' *'' Toxorhynchites christophi'' *'' Toxorhynchites grandiosus'' *'' Toxorhynchites guadeloupensis'' *'' Toxorhynchites haemorrhoidalis'' *'' Toxorhynchites hexacis'' *'' Toxorhynchites mariae'' *'' Toxorhynchites minimus'' *'' Toxorhynchites moctezuma'' *'' Toxorhynchites portoricensis'' *'' Toxorhynchites purpureus'' *'' Toxorhynchites pusillus'' *''Toxorhynchites rajah
''Toxorhynchites rajah'' is a species of mosquito in the genus '' Toxorhynchites''. It is endemic to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. In its larval stage, ''T. rajah'' is found exclusively in the pitchers of ''Nepenthes rajah'' (hence the name), a spec ...
''
*'' Toxorhynchites rutilus''
*'' Toxorhynchites solstitialis''
*'' Toxorhynchites speciosus''
*'' Toxorhynchites splendens''
*'' Toxorhynchites theobaldi''
*'' Toxorhynchites trichopygus''
*'' Toxorhynchites violaceus''
*'' Toxorhynchites inornatus''
*'' Toxorhynchites acaudatus''
*'' Toxorhynchites aurifluus''
*'' Toxorhynchites bickleyi''
*'' Toxorhynchites funestus''
*'' Toxorhynchites gigantulus''
*'' Toxorhynchites gravelyi''
*'' Toxorhynchites klossi''
*'' Toxorhynchites leicesteri''
*'' Toxorhynchites magnificus''
*'' Toxorhynchites manopi''
*'' Toxorhynchites metallicus''
*'' Toxorhynchites nigripes''
*'' Toxorhynchites amboinensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites kamoisi''
*'' Toxorhynchites moctezuma''
*'' Toxorhynchites longgianeolata''
*'' Toxorhynchites lewisi''
*'' Toxorhynchites madagascarensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites manicatus''
*'' Toxorhynchites nairobiensi''
*'' Toxorhynchites nepenthicola''
*'' Toxorhynchites nigeriensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites okinawensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites pauliani''
*'' Toxorhynchites phytophagus''
*'' Toxorhynchites pendleburyi''
*'' Toxorhynchites ramalingami''
*'' Toxorhynchites rickenbachi''
*'' Toxorhynchites raris''
*'' Toxorhynchites rizzoi''
*'' Toxorhynchites rodhaini''
*'' Toxorhynchites ruwenzori''
*'' Toxorhynchites sumatranus''
*'' Toxorhynchites tyagii''
*'' Toxorhynchites wolfsi''
*'' Toxorhynchites angustiplatus''
*'' Toxorhynchites edwardsi''
*'' Toxorhynchites erythrurus''
*'' Toxorhynchites evansae''
*'' Toxorhynchites fontenillei''
*'' Toxorhynchites gerbergi''
*'' Toxorhynchites guadeloupensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites grjebinei''
*'' Toxorhynchites hypoptes''
*'' Toxorhynchites indicus''
*'' Toxorhynchites helenae''
*'' Toxorhynchites cavalierii''
*'' Toxorhynchites coeruleus''
*'' Toxorhynchites darjeelingensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites catharinensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites capelai''
*'' Toxorhynchites camaronis''
*'' Toxorhynchites brunhesi''
*'' Toxorhynchites bengalensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites ater''
*'' Toxorhynchites aeneus''
*'' Toxorhynchites albipes''
*'' Toxorhynchites dundo''
*'' Toxorhynchites lutescens''
*'' Toxorhynchites macaensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites macaensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites zairensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites virdibasis''
*'' Toxorhynchites kempi''
*'' Toxorhynchites quasiferox''
*'' Toxorhynchites lemuriae''
*'' Toxorhynchites nepenthis''
*'' Toxorhynchites angolensis''
*'' Toxorhynchites mexicanus'' †
References
External links
''Toxorhynchites''
at the
Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit
The Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit ("WRBU") is a US Army organization that conducts laboratory and field research on the systematics of medically important arthropods in support of epidemiological investigations and disease prevention and control ...
Video showing larvae of ''Toxorhynchites rutilus'' feeding on other mosquito larvae
{{Taxonbar, from=Q137785 Mosquito genera Taxa named by Frederick Vincent Theobald