Fig, LXXII. Larva of big woods mosquito. Psorophora ferox Hum. (After John B. Smith.) 1, larva; 2, antenna; 3, maxillary palpus; 4, mentum; 6, mandible; 6, maxillary brush; 7, terminal segments and siphon; 8, band of scales; 9, individual scale; 10, siphonal spines (all much enlarged).From: Headlee, Thomas J. 1945. The Mosquitoes of New Jersey and Their Control. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick. http://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.10185
I'm a Naturalist Photographer / Entomologist, I study Diptera Brachycera. I found this Ochlerotatus caspius in my garden, Padua, Veneto, North Italy, the 07.VI.2013 The ID is from the site www.diptera.info.
Photographed by Macroscopic Solutions using diffusers on www.macroscopicsolutions.comIdentificationLarvae:- antennal seta 1-A multiple, attached near the middle of the shaft- head hairs 5 and 6 multibranched- comb scale rounded apically- siphon with an even row of single setae attached distally to pecten teeth- saddle complete- anal segment seta 1 as long as or longer than saddleAdult Female:- proboscis long and weakly recurved- abdominal terga dark brown with yellowish-white basal bands widening lateraly to width of the segment- hindtarsomeres intermixed with light and dark scales- costa, subcosta, and radius intermixed with light and drk scales
Toxorhynchites rutilus, called "Elephant Mosquito" for its size (circa 7 mm body length) and recurved snout. This is a male, indicated by the feathery antennae. Neither males nor females bite--they both take plant juices. In a further bit of beneveolence, the larvae of this species prey upon those of other mosquitoes!P.S. Happy "Friday Fly Day"!