Giant snake
| Giant snake | ||||||||||
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Giant snake ( Tipula maxima ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Tipula maxima | ||||||||||
| Poda , 1761 |
The giant snake ( Tipula maxima ) is a mosquito from the family of the Schnaken (Tipulidae).
features
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The animals reach a body length of up to 40 millimeters, with a wingspan of 33 to 65 millimeters and are thus the largest of the mosquitos native to Central Europe. In addition, their legs are almost twice as long as the body. The wings have three sharply defined, roughly triangular, brown spots on the front edge. At the rear of the wings there are more indistinct gray spots. The rear wings are reduced to swinging arches (holders). Besides the compound eyes, the animals have no point eyes ( ocelli ). The abdomen is brown-gray and has dark spots on the sides. In the females it is pointed at the back and ends in a laying stinger ( ovipositor ) with which the eggs are laid.
Occurrence
The giant snakes occur in the temperate latitudes of Europe. They live in humid areas such as B. springs and streams. They can be found predominantly in the mountainous region and are common in places. They fly from May to July.
Way of life
The larvae are about 50 millimeters long and live near the banks of small flowing waters in shallow water. The second generation overwinters in autumn.
literature
- Heiko Bellmann: The New Cosmos Insect Guide , Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co, Stuttgart 1999, ISBN 3-440-07682-2
