Tree-hole-mosquito
Guides
Ochlerotatus triseriatus
eastern treehole mosquito, treehole mosquito
Ochlerotatus triseriatus, the eastern treehole mosquito, is a container-breeding mosquito native to North America. It is the primary enzootic vector of La Crosse virus, the leading cause of arboviral encephalitis in children in the United States. Larvae develop in natural tree holes and artificial water-holding containers, feeding on microbial communities associated with decaying organic matter. The species exhibits strong density-dependent survival, with larval crowding significantly reducing per-capita survival rates—a trait that has important implications for mosquito control strategies.
Toxorhynchites
elephant mosquitoes, mosquito eaters, giant treehole mosquitoes
Toxorhynchites is a genus of large, non-biting mosquitoes found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Adults are active during daylight hours and feed exclusively on nectar, honeydew, and plant juices rather than blood. The genus includes the largest known mosquito species, reaching up to 18 mm in body length and 24 mm in wingspan. Larvae are obligate predators that consume other mosquito larvae and aquatic invertebrates, making them valuable for biological control of disease-vector mosquitoes.