268 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



and the Antilles. In Panama it is at present the most ubi- 

 quitous mosquito of the Gatun Lake region. It is a strong 

 flier, and travels for long distances and may be encountered 

 in the jungle several miles from the lake shore. 



Between twilight and sunrise seems to be their favorite 

 time of activity. In the evening, shortly after sundown, they 

 begin their search for a blood meal. They may then be en- 

 countered in towns and settlements, in the forests, and also 

 flying about over the surface of Gatun Lake at some distance 

 from the shore. They appear to be strongly attracted by light 

 and the smell of man, and enter houses, either screened or un- 

 screened, without any hesitation. Being sure and vigorous in 

 flight, they are especially adept in entering screened houses. 

 Alighting on the outside of the screens at points nearest to 

 the lights, they dart through an opened door at the first op- 

 portunity, or find holes or rents in the screening through which 

 they can enter. 



They will fly over Gatun Lake and bite occupants of boats, 

 if not at too great a distance from the shore, as readily as 

 men in the forests. The writer has been bitten by this species 

 while in a steam launch at least three-quarters of a mile 

 from the nearest shore. This was during early twilight, about 

 6.30 P. M. Although the launch was traveling at the rate of 

 eight miles an hour, they did not seem to be deterred from 

 their attempts to gain a meal of blood. They could be plainly 

 observed darting under the awning of the launch by the doz- 

 ens. Although the most of their attacks were directed at our 

 ankles near the bottom of the boat, where they were protected 

 from the wind caused by the boat's passage, they did not 

 neglect our hands and faces which were above the level of 

 the boat's gunwales. Many of these winged hypodermics were 

 also plainly visible darting around the light at the bow of the 

 boat. It appeared that we were either going through large 

 numbers of them flying in the air, or else a number were 

 keeping pace with our boat and flying about the how light. 

 The evening was calm with no appreciable wind blowing over 

 the lake. Frequently these mosquitoes will also apparently 

 without the least hesitation, enter railway trains, as they stop 

 at the several stations in the lake region while en route across 

 the Isthmus, and prey on the passengers. 



Although they will bite readily during all hours between 

 sunset and sunrise, they shun the light as much as possible 

 and do not usually bite in bright daylight. However, in a 

 darkened room of a house, or along narrow trails through the 



