What In The Unholy Heck Is This?

[Crossfc]

OMG! You keep mosquitoes! I wouldn't be able to keep such a think. Crazy bloodsuckers! Have you ever had them on the loose by accident?

 

[SPLiSH]

OMG! You keep mosquitoes! I wouldn't be able to keep such a think. Crazy bloodsuckers! Have you ever had them on the loose by accident?

She's keeping the larvae to feed to her fish.

EDIT: Just realised you might be joking - if so, sorry for my blonde moment.

 

[Synirr]

It may be a crane fly. Quite similar to a mosquito in appearance and life cycle but some species can get quite large. Often referred to as "mosquito hawks" here in Canada. I had a look via Google but couldn't come up with a good website. If you're looking, remember that there are many different species of crane flys.

That's what I thought at first, but the lifecycle of mosquito hawks is actually nothing like that of the mosquito. Their larvae are not aquatic...

OMG! You keep mosquitoes! I wouldn't be able to keep such a think. Crazy bloodsuckers! Have you ever had them on the loose by accident?

She's keeping the larvae to feed to her fish.

EDIT: Just realised you might be joking - if so, sorry for my blonde moment.

Haha, yeah. Obviously I don't keep adult mosquitos on purpose
I just collect the larvae out of the birdbath and dog water bowl in the backyard. I am keeping a few I collected in a tupperware container with the lid on for a couple of days to feed them to my betta juvies... they'll become pupa before adults, so I know when I need to get rid of them quick

 

[SamUK]

that is one ugly SOB!


keep the lid on tight

 

[wendywc]

Any updates on the monster? I'm interested and just stumbled onto this thread.

 

[rfisher]

Hi,

I have just stumbled upon this post too. Any updates? Mind you if Synirr does not reply then maybe the thing has hatched, escaped from the container and eaten him/her.

Rich

 

[Synirr]

Hi,

I have just stumbled upon this post too. Any updates? Mind you if Synirr does not reply then maybe the thing has hatched, escaped from the container and eaten him/her.

Rich

!!!!
I'm a her
No new info to report, it's still alive and still a pupa.

 

[rfisher]

Hi,

I have just stumbled upon this post too. Any updates? Mind you if Synirr does not reply then maybe the thing has hatched, escaped from the container and eaten him/her.

Rich

!!!!
I'm a her
No new info to report, it's still alive and still a pupa.

Hi

I hope I didnt offend you.

Rich

 

[Synirr]

Of course you didn't offend me, I was just clarifying

Well, it emerged today.. I still have no clue what it is, it looks like a giant mosquito

Trapped in the water because I didn't leave much air space in the container

It's aliiiiiiive!!! I let it go outside...

 

[aloaring]

EEkkkkk wouldn't let that any where near me something that size could suck loads of your blood out !! Personally i would have squished it there is no love lost between me and mozzies

 

[KathyM]

Oh.....my.....God. You let it go? I'll wait for the news report of cases of Dengue Fever *pmsl*. 'Orrible things. Bleurgh.

 

[Ginge]

OH NOOOO were all gonna get bit by this new super bug you released.

*squashes bug on back on neck "oh no it already bit me"........*

 

[Rick]

I've seen those giant mosquitos before.

 

[black angel]

Midges are tiny and are black with feathery antennae. All i can find on the one above is a pic on google but it doesnt say what kind, only that its american so dont know if its native to here or not.

 

[Synirr]

I did some Googling, and it looks almost exactly like a female Toxorhynchites speciosus, but there are some differences, and that website is about Australian species... The larva and pupa look the same too, so it must be related at least

EDIT: Found it!! Looks like Toxorhynchites rutilus. They are found in the US and have the same leg banding and everything. Apparently they do not bite people and their larvae feed on the larvae of other mosquitos, so it's a good thing I let mine go.

What do ya know, it really was a giant freakin' mosquito