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Female:
Adult females are very distinctive and should not be confused with any other species in southern Australia (although in northern Qld, two other species of Toxorhynchites, Tx. inornatus and Tx. splendens, are very similar), the large size and dark metallic appearance, bent and recurved proboscis, and abdominal lateral scale tufts are diagnostic.
NSW (coast and hinterland north from about Sydney), (also Qld, NT); normally coastal.
Adults are seldom collected as they are not blood-feeders and not attracted to humans; they feed on plant juices and nectar; they are sometimes seen in gardens and occasionally enter houses during warmer months. The larval stages are predacious on other mosquito larvae.
There is no concern for a pest nuisance as the species does not bite, and thus there is no relation to disease.
modified from: Russell, R.C.
(1996). A colour photo atlas of mosquitoes of
Southeastern Australia. Medical Entomology, Westmead Hospital.