156 ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



lected. The pupa takes air through a spiracle near the 

 head. When the insect is ready to emerge, the pupa rests 

 at the surface of the water, the dorsal portion of t he- 

 body slightly out of the water. The pupal case splits, 

 and the mosquito draws out first the fore legs, which are 

 placed on the water to serve as a support while the rest 

 of the body is withdrawn. The wings expand quickly, 



FIG. 124. Mosquito (Culex pungens), female. (After Howard ) 



and the insect flies away. The pupal case serves as a raft 

 upon which the insect floats momentarily while the 

 wings are drying. Should there be a brisk wind at this 

 moment, the insect will be blown from its raft and 

 drowned. This is not an infrequent calamity in the 

 life history of the mosquito. 



In the matter of remedies we are all familiar with the 

 use of mosquito netting over doors and windows of 

 dwellings. The best means of dealing with the mos- 

 quito are preventive. Rain-barrels should be kept se- 

 curely covered. A rain-barrel allowed to stand open 

 with sufficient dregs will furnish a breeding-place for 

 enough mosquitoes to torment a household. There 

 are three principal remedies : standing pools can be 

 drained ; ponds can be well stocked with fish ; or kero- 



