Giant mosquito with 11.15cm wingspan found in China

A super-sized mosquito with a wingspan of 11.15 centimetres has been found in China's Sichuan province, entomologists said today.

According to Zhao Li, curator of the Insect Museum of West China, the mosquito belongs to the world's largest mosquito species Holorusia mikado.

It was found in August last year during a field trip to Mount Qingcheng in Chengdu, capital of south-west China's Sichuan province, Xinhua news agency reported.

First found in Japan, the Holorusia mikado species normally have a wing span of about eight centimetres, researchers said.

"These mosquitoes look horrendous, but do not feed on blood. The adults have a lifespan of only a few days and mainly feed on nectar," Li said.

There are thousands of types of mosquitoes in the world, however, barely 100 species feed on blood and may be a problem for humans, he said.

In the western parts of Sichuan, Holorusia mikado, also known as the crane fly, are mainly found in the Chengdu plain and in mountainous areas below 2,200 metres.

"They are weak fliers because of their big bodies. When they fly, it is more like hopping. More often than not, they are found in areas with dense vegetation," Li said.