CHENGDU, CHINA — A giant insect, said to be the world's biggest mosquito, discovered in southwestern China last August will be in display at a museum next month. <br /><br />Reported by China's Xinhua News, entomologist Zhao Li[c] discovered the giant critter at Qingcheng mountain in China's Sichuan province last August. <br /><br />Zhao, who's also a curator for the Insect Museum of West China, told local media Sichuan Online that the mosquito, <br /><br />Holorusia mikado, also known as the crane fly, belongs to the world's largest mosquito species Holorusia and has a 5cm long body and a wingspan of 11.15cm.<br /><br />First discovered and named by British entomologist John Westwood in Japan in 1876, the mosquito is said to be the largest of the mosquitoes with an average wingspan of 8cm.<br /><br />In the western parts of Sichuan, are mainly found in the Chengdu plain and in mountainous areas below 2,200 metres.<br /><br />Zhao Li said despite the flies' horrific look, they do not feed on blood. The adults have a lifespan of only a few days and mainly feed on nectar," <br /><br />The crane fly will now go on display at Zhao's museum as part of an exhibition about strange insects in May.
