The largest mosquito on earth is the centipede. It can be found in thickets in all moist forests and parks located on the banks of reservoirs or rivers. In the old days in Russia they were called karamors. Folklore mentioned them in proverbs and tales. From here we know the “mosquito-mosquito”, “the mosquito that got married on the fly” and many characters from fairy tales.
It happens that these long-legged mosquitoes fly into people's homes, and this causes panic. Fortunately, don’t worry, because a large mosquito is a harmless insect that feeds exclusively on flower nectar. It does no harm to humans or animals. Their voracious larvae eat rotting remains of plants, so their presence in the puddles formed in the garden is very useful.
They live and breed wherever climatic conditions contribute to this. For example, in North Africa, a large mosquito reaches gigantic proportions - up to ten centimeters. There are many centipedes in Europe; species are found here more often, having a length of up to six centimeters. Asian forests and swamps are home to many species of centipedes, very different in size.
The large mosquito itself is small. Its size depends on the length of the legs. Its slightly elongated head contains nineteen small segments that pollinate plants well while eating nectar. The eyes are very large. There are two of them, but vision is organized by mosaic perception, that is, each eye consists of several eye plates that collect the overall picture in parts.
The call of moisture is a very important instinct that a large mosquito has. As soon as the time comes to lay eggs, the female mosquito searches for a reservoir. It can be a pond, or it can be an ordinary puddle or a tub of water. Eggs are laid directly on the surface of the water. The larvae hatching after two weeks have a respiratory organ in their long tail. In order not to attract birds who like to collect insects from the surface of the water, the larvae of the long-legged mosquito turn upside down and, catching with their tails on the surface film of water, get oxygen for breathing and light for growth. Sensing danger or agitation of water, the larvae briskly dive to the very bottom of the reservoir, where they feed on plant debris.
Even under favorable conditions, the mosquito life span is short. In the summer, the female lives no more than two months, and the male is much less. Females born in late summer do not breed offspring. Their task is to accumulate nutrients for a successful wintering. At the onset of cold weather, the fertilized female slams into the crevice and falls asleep until spring arrives. When weather conditions become suitable for the life of a mosquito, it wakes up and immediately proceeds to reproduce offspring, that is, it finds a reservoir and lays its eggs in it. Mosquitoes do not have spring mating.
Like other mosquitoes, a large mosquito has its value in nature. Its development and reproduction is a very valuable link in the streamlined food chain of our environment.
