Mosquitoes are everywhere here in Cambridge Mass. Some can barely be seen. Others are quite big. Have you seen monster-sized mosquitoes this year?
If you are wondering if the mosquito below is the biggest mosquito, the answer is no. It is larger than many – one of the largest, in fact. This photo is of a lowly Psorophora ciliata mosquito, which met its untimely demise indoors. A male mosquito can live an average of one week inside your home. Females will find a delicious blood meal in your home, but she will be unable to live long after biting you. Three weeks at most. The mosquito below also goes by a few other names. It is a member of the Culicidae family, and is also referred to as the Culex ciliata, nicknamed gallinipper. It can grow up to about a half-inch in size. That’s 20 times the size of smaller mosquitoes. This is likely a female, because it is very large. Female mosquitoes are generally larger than males. The Psorophora ciliata is a dusk to dawn feeder, and she is a voracious hunter. If she ends up inside your home, she will bite a family member or a pet and she packs a big, painful bite. This species carries West Nile virus and can be found east of the Continental Divide in the United States.
Is the Culex ciliata the biggest mosquito?
The biggest mosquito is much larger than the Culex ciliata.
If you believe that a mosquito that reaches up to 1/2″ is large, consider the Toxorhynchites rutilus variety. This monster flying assassin grows up to 1.5″ in length. It’s impressive size has given it the alternate title of Australian elephant mosquito. Though large, the Toxorhynchites rutilus does not feed on mammalian blood. So even if you see one of these massive mosquitoes, there is no need to worry about getting a massive bite. The Toxorhynchites rutilus was first recorded in Massachusetts in 1998. Six larvae were discovered in the hole of a beech tree in Worcester. This mosquito is not just known for its size, but also its colorful appearance.
Protect your family from mosquitoes large and small with professional Cambridge mosquito control.
Your family and pets don’t have to become a thirsty mosquito’s next victim. At-home Cambridge mosquito control is available, and can work to eliminate up to 90% of the mosquitoes on your property for up to three weeks at a time. That’s right. When you choose professional mosquito control for your Cambridge Mass home, you can set it and forget it. Highly-trained mosquito control professionals will arrive at your door every few weeks to deploy effective barrier protection spray in either an EPA-registered or all-natural formula. The traditional formula works the longest and best. The all-natural mosquito protection will eliminate about 80% of the mosquitoes around your home for about two weeks between sprays. Both formulas need only 30 minutes of drying time before you can resume use of your yard. Choose the formula that works better for your needs. The only wrong answer to mosquito control is not having any.
Dave Macchia, Central Mass Mosquito Control Expert