Common House Mosquito vs Giant Petaltail Dragonfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common House Mosquito Giant Petaltail Dragonfly
Scientific Name Culex pipiens Petalura ingentissima
Order Diptera Odonata
Family Culicidae Petaluridae
Size 4-7 mm 85 mm body, 125 mm wingspan
Habitat Wetlands Wetlands
Diet Blood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Worldwide temperate regions Oceania
Conservation Least Concern Vulnerable

Common House Mosquito

A ubiquitous pale brown mosquito found in urban and suburban environments. It is the primary vector of West Nile virus in temperate regions.

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Did You Know?

Underground populations in the London Tube have evolved into a distinct biting form called Culex pipiens molestus.

Giant Petaltail Dragonfly

Australias largest dragonfly and one of the most primitive living species, belonging to a family dating back to the Jurassic period. Larvae live in swamp burrows for years.

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Did You Know?

This dragonfly is a living fossil — its family dates back 150 million years to the Jurassic, and larvae dig burrows in swamps where they may live for over a decade.