Story: Sandflies and mosquitoes
The saltpool mosquito (Opifex fuscus) is unique to New Zealand, and is widespread around the coast. Adult females (top) can produce their first batch of eggs without a meal of blood. They feed by day and night, and their bite can be painful. Males (bottom) have long legs that enable them to walk on water. They have large claws, which they use to grip females during mating (unlike many other mosquitoes, the saltpool female mates while still in the pupa stage).
About this item
Southern Monitoring Services
Photographs by Rachel Crane
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