Gallinipper (mythology)

The gallinipper is a cryptid in the African American folk tradition.[1] These creatures were said to be a species of giant mosquitoes so big that their bones could fence a 140 acre field.[2][1] A popular telling of the legends has the creature get its bill out of a tree trunk, with the animal being large enough to clear 140 acres of land during the struggle.[3][1][4] Gallinipper tales were appropriated as a feature of minstrel shows, but have also appeared in American blues songs.[5]

For the gallinipper, a large New World mosquito, see Psorophora ciliata.
Gallinipper
GroupingCryptid
FolkloreAfrican-American folktales
CountryAmerica

References
  1. Dorson, Richard M. (1954). "Negro Tales". Western Folklore. Western States Folklore Society. 13 (2/3): 160–169. doi:10.2307/1520611. JSTOR 1520611.
  2. Justus, James H (2004). Fetching the Old Southwest: Humorous Writing from Longstreet to Twain. University of Missouri Press. pp. 391–394. ISBN 9780826264176.
  3. Fauset, Arthur Huff (1927). "Negro Folk Tales from the South. (Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana)". The Journal of American Folklore. American Folklore Society. 40 (157): 261. doi:10.2307/534988. JSTOR 534988.
  4. Ancelet, Barry Jean (1980). "Talking Pascal in Mamou: A Study in Folkloric Competence". Journal of the Folklore Institute. Indiana University Press. 17 (1): 1–24. doi:10.2307/3814219. JSTOR 3814219.
  5. Waymer, Jim (June 13, 2013). "'Giant' mosquito invasion? Nope, just another Florida critter". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida: Gannett Co., Inc.
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