154 



ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



OF MAN IN GENERAL. 



While the foregoing insects indirectly affect man 

 himself, there are some which directly have to do with 

 his comfort or discomfort. There are very few habita- 

 ble regions where man is not personally subject to 

 more or less annoyance from insects. In this part of 

 the world we at once think of mosquitoes. 



The Mosquito. - The eggs of the mosquito are depos- 



FIG. 122. Mosquito ( Culex pungens) In process of development : Egg mass 

 above ; two eggs, much enlarged, just below ; young larvte, enlarged, below. Three 

 of these are represented as at the surface of the water breathing through the caudal 

 tube or trachea. (After Howard.) 



ited in small boat-shaped masses, and the young hatch- 

 ing from these escape into the water. We frequently 

 find the half-empty rain-barrel well supplied with these 

 larvae, commonly called " wigglers." These move about 



