A Record-Breaking Mosquito of Frightening Size Discovered in China (3 photos)
Everyone is probably familiar with crane flies. These flying giants are completely harmless, but their menacing appearance still makes you want to stay away. But imagine a crane flies, only several times larger than our own. These are the kind of monsters that inhabit tropical latitudes, and yes, they, too, are harmless. However, these mosquitoes are of great interest to scientists, who organize entire expeditions in search of new species. 
It was precisely such an expedition, organized by Chinese entomologists, that discovered a giant mosquito of previously unseen size in southeastern China. The discovery was made by Dr. Zhao Li, director of the China Insect Museum in Chengdu. The wingspan of the arthropod caught by the scientist was 11.15 centimeters! 
The scientist's joy knew no bounds when a frighteningly large flying specimen became entangled in his net. After a quick examination of the catch, the entomologist immediately assured everyone that it was a new species and, in fact, the largest mosquito ever officially caught on our planet. But making a claim is one thing, and conducting serious scientific work, classifying the insect, and comparing it with other large specimens is quite another.
Therefore, upon returning from the expedition, Zhao Li immersed himself in the scientific archives and began studying the impressive experience of mosquito catchers over the past decades. The work proved challenging—the doctor spent several months reading dissertations and poring over catalogs. But now he's convinced that his specimen is the largest of its relatives described by science and, in fact, the largest mosquito in the world. 
Having thoroughly studied the matter and collected evidence, Dr. Zhao Li calmly announced his discovery and published photographs of his unpleasant treasure. You'll agree, even knowing that crane flies are pacifists, such a giant makes you want to run away without looking back.
But it's not the harmless crane flies, the size of a sparrow, that we should fear, but the ordinary, tiny mosquitoes capable of killing millions.
