The largest mosquito is the toxorhynchites which is 1.5 inches long. It is sometimes mistakenly called a mosquito-hawk which is supposed to eat mosquitoes. In fact it cannibalizes mosquito larvae. There are flies and wasps as well as archnids that feed on skitters.
In Toronto there are 8 (count-em) eight, varietals of skitter which carry the encephalitis known as West Nile. They are (I think) aedes vexans, culex tarsalus, anopheles, ochlerotatus, mansonia, culex quinquefasciatus, and some others I forget..
Skitters are 500 times more bitey and buzzy during a full moon. As you may know only the female bites and buzzes. Figures. She can bite more than once though.. watch out..
The mosquito stinger is about seven layers of tubes and has a small saw inside for putting incision in for the inner suction tube.
Mossies mostly feed on plant nectar and are one of the most prolific spreaders of some plant pollens. They also prefer animal blood over human. The male mossie only feeds on nectar not on blood. Some mossies are morning, some day, some evening biters. Some are strong fliers, some weak. Pyrethrins (black flag), and allethrins are the best mossie killers. Diethyl phthalate is a good repellant, as is diethyl ethyl toluamide.
People are encouraged to support their local frog, bat, purple finch, dragonfly, and fish society. At one time I did not like frogs, but this season I am thinking of learning to speak frog, and growing a long forked tongue.
riiiibiiit grannnooye
Try not to use pesticides for canola grain as it kills frogs. The rise of west Nile perhaps can be traced to farmer's pesticides.
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