Toxorhynchites Explained

Toxorhynchites, also called elephant mosquito or mosquito eater, is a genus of diurnal and often relatively colorful mosquitoes, found worldwide between about 35° north and 35° south. Most species occur in forests. It includes the largest known species of mosquito, at up to 18mm in length and 24mm in wingspan.[1] It is among the many kinds of mosquito that do not consume blood. The adults subsist on carbohydrate-rich materials, such as honeydew, or saps and juices from damaged plants, refuse, fruit, and nectar.[2]

Mating in mid-air, males and females synchronize their wing beats to the same frequency.[3] [4] Eggs are deposited by flinging them onto water surfaces while hovering.[3] 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.[5]

In contrast to blood-sucking species of mosquitoes, their larvae prey on the larvae of other mosquitoes and similar nektonic prey, making Toxorhynchites beneficial to humans.[1] Living on this protein and fat rich diet, females have no need to risk their lives sucking blood in adulthood, having already accumulated the necessary materials for oogenesis and vitellogenesis. The larvae of one jungle variety, Toxorhynchites splendens, consume larvae of other mosquito species occurring in tree crevices, particularly Aedes aegypti.

Environmental scientists have suggested that Toxorhynchites mosquitoes be introduced to areas outside their natural range in order to fight dengue fever. 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.[5]

An extinct species T. mexicanus is known from Miocene aged Mexican Amber.[6]

Species

The genus Toxorhynchites is divided into 4 subgenera and contains 90 species also included 1 extinct species:[7]

Subgenus (Toxorhynchites)

Subgenus (Afrorhynchus)

Subgenus (Ankylorhynchus)

Subgenus (Lynchiella)

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Cook, G.C. . Zumla, A . 2009 . Manson's Tropical Diseases . Saunders Elsevier . 1735 . 22 . 978-1-4160-4470-3 .
  2. Bonnet . D. D. . Hu . S. M. K. . The Introduction of Toxorhynchites brevipalpis Theobald into the Territory of Hawaii . Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society . 1951 . 14 . 2 . 237–242 . 10125/16231 . free .
  3. Web site: The Secret Lives of Mosquitoes, the World's Most Hated Insects. Smithsonian Voices. 19 August 2021. Cypress. Hansen.
  4. Gibson . Gabriella . Gabriella Gibson . Russell . Ian . July 2006 . Flying in Tune: Sexual Recognition in Mosquitoes . Current Biology . 16 . 13 . 1311–1316 . 10.1016/j.cub.2006.05.053 . 16824918 . 11833769 . free.
  5. Collins . Larissa E. . Blackwell . Alison . The biology of Toxorhynchites mosquitoes and their potential as biocontrol agents . Biocontrol News and Information . 2000 . 21 . 4 . 105–116 .
  6. Zavortink . Thomas J. . Poinar . George O. . Toxorhynchites (toxorhynchites) mexicanus, N. SP. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Mexican Amber: A New World Species with Old World Affinities . Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington . January 2008 . 110 . 1 . 116–125 . 10.4289/0013-8797-110.1.116 . 85578548 .
  7. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&anchorLocation=SubordinateTaxa&credibilitySort=TWG%20standards%20met&rankName=Species&search_value=125932&print_version=SCR&source=from_print#SubordinateTaxa Toxorhynchites
  8. Diptera von Insel Portorico . V. von . Röder . 337–349 . 1885 . 46 . .

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