DIPTERA CULICID^:. 35 



Family CHIRONOMIDAE. 

 Chironomus sp. 



These small flies are often seen in the cave, usually when flying after 

 having been disturbed or attracted by the light. They seem fairly 

 abundant in the remote parts of the cave and are occasionally near the 

 mouth. Only a few were taken. 



They have been found in Twin Cave, near Mitchell, where they were 

 quite numerous in April, 1904. I have seen them in numbers flying 

 about lighted lamps in Mammoth Cave, along Echo River, and likewise 

 in a cave near Bowling Green, Kentucky. Osten Sacken (Packard, 

 1888, 80) records this genus from Mammoth Cave. 



Family CULICIDAE. 

 Anopheles punctipennis Say. 



SAY, Jour. Ac. Phil., in, 9 (all United States east of Rocky Mountains). ALDRICH, 

 Cat. N. A. Dip., 1905, 122 (Eastern United States and Canada). 



Quite common within the mouth of the cave during winter, but not 

 seen in summer. It congregates in cracks and recesses and in the angle 

 formed by the wall and roof. It is quite abundant from the mouth to 

 '' 4," where direct rays from the outside reach, but beyond the reach 

 of these rays its occurrence abruptly ceases. In the fall the insect 

 enters the cave early. It was noticed during the first half of October, 

 1902, and in 1903 appeared first between September 30 and October 3, 

 for it was not noticed on the former date and was quite abundant on the 

 latter date. This species has not been seen in the cave in spring as 

 late as April. On March 17, 1903, Anopheles was still not very active 

 and would hardly move when touched. I think the Anopheles had 

 moved very little all winter. However, before the next trip, April 4, 

 the Anopheles had completely disappeared. There had been several 

 warm and bright days during this interval. 



When the Anopheles first arrives it is very active and flies the moment 

 the light is thrown upon it or an attempt made to approach it with the 

 hand. When the temperature becomes lower Anopheles becomes less 

 active and after the first cold snap is quite dormant, and remains more 

 or less so all winter, depending somewhat, however, upon the tempera- 

 ture. During the cold months it is so stiff that it can not fly and will 

 scarcely attempt to move. It seems reasonable that in regions of caves 

 malarial conditions might be aggravated by these mosquitoes hibernating 

 so freely in them. 



