CAN THE MOSQUITO BE EXTERMINATED? 139 



one condition seems to be essential to its active develop- 

 ment. It must have water. 



The mother mosquito deposits her eggs in minute boat- 

 like masses upon the surface of water. From these eggs 

 come little larvae, or worms, or maggots, to use popular 

 words. These wee things inhabit the water, living most 

 of the time at or near the bottom, where they are said to 

 feed upon decaying matter and the micro-organisms that 

 swarm in such conditions. The question has often been 

 asked me, ''What were mosquitoes made for, anyhow?" 

 If those who have specially studied the habits of the in- 

 sects are correct, they certainly render important and useful 

 service during their larval stage by cleansing swamp lands 

 and stagnant pools from the miasms which plague man- 

 kind with various forms of fever. Let this much be said 

 to the credit of this dreadfully maligned insect, for it be- 

 hooves the naturalist, at least, to give " even the devil his 

 due." If our mosquito were only pleased to confine its 

 existence to this stage, there would be no need to write 

 this paper, for it would be numbered among the benefac- 

 tors of our race, or, perhaps, like many another benefac- 

 tor, be utterly unknown. 



The mosquito's brief period of larval life is divided 

 between feeding upon the aforesaid micro-organisms, etc., 

 and occasional excursions 'to the surface for a breath of air. 

 Unfortunately, the larva soon becomes a pupa with a 

 greatly enlarged thorax, which gives the body a club 

 shaped appearance. Two broad paddles or caudal swim- 

 ming leaves are fixed at the apex of the body, by which 

 the mosquitoes can wiggle their way through the water. 

 They are active in their habits, but they do not cat. Per- 

 haps their larval diet of miasms proves too much fur 



