Elephant mosquito (Toxorhynchites rutilus) Toxorhynchites rutilus, commonly known as elephant mosquito or treehole predatory mosquito, are commonly found in the eastern United States within deciduous forest. They are visually much different than their blood-sucking counterparts that most consider pests. These mosquitoes can have a wingspan up to nearly 1/2 inch and are very colourful. This species has vibrant colours of metallic blue, yellow and purple scales along their bodies and legs. People describe these mosquitoes as quite beautiful, and they are considered the most colourful species of mosquito in the United States. This species of mosquito does not feed on blood! The adults are known to feed primarily on sugary substances such as flower nectar. While the adults pose no threat to humans, the larvae of this species feed primarily on other mosquito larvae. Feeding by the larvae of Toxorhynchites rutilus provides natural biological control to those mosquitoes we consider pests and disease vectors across the world.