DIPTERA 



297 



in the Rocky Mountains, he has seen them rise at nightfall in most 

 incredible numbers, producing a buzzing or humming noise like that of a 

 distant waterfall. 



Most larva? of midges are aquatic; but some live either in manure, 

 in decaying vegetable matter, under bark, or in the ground. Some of the 

 pupse are free and active, others are quiescent. The larvae and pupae of 

 the aquatic species are of much importance as fish-food. 



Many of the aquatic larvae live in tubes which they build of bits of 

 dead leaves and particles of sand fastened together with viscid threads. 

 These tubes are frequently seen upon the surface of dead leaves, stones, 

 and sticks; and they are often made in the mud of the bottom of a pool, 

 in which case they open at the surface of the mud. Many of the species 

 are blood-red in color, and hence are frequently known as blood-worms. 



The aquatic larvae feed on algae, decaying vegetable matter, diatoms, 

 and small Crustacea; the terrestrial species, on manure or decaying 

 vegetable matter. There are a few cases 

 reported of the larvae infesting the roots of 

 plants in greenhouses and mining in the 

 leaves of plants. 



To the genus Culicoides belong the small 

 midges commonly known as sandflies or 

 punkies. Certain minute species are some- 

 times very abundant, and extremely an- 

 noying on account of their bites. They are 

 exceedingly troublesome in the Adirondack 

 Mountains, in the White Mountains, and 

 along mountain streams generally; they 

 are also abundant in some places at the 

 are sometimes called " no-see-um,' 



Fig. 510. — A punkie, Culicoides gultipennis. 



seashore. These tiny midges 

 an Indian name for them (Fig. 510). 



Family Culicid^e 

 The Mosquitoes 



The mosquitoes are small flies, with the abdomen 

 fig. 511. — Antenna l° n & an( A slender, the wings narrow, the antennae 

 of mosquitoes, m, male; plumose in the males, (Fig. 511), and usually with 

 a long, slender, but firm proboscis. The most dis- 

 tinctive feature of mosquitoes is the fringe of scale-like setae on the margin 

 of the wings and also in most cases on each of the wing- veins (Fig. 512). 

 The mouth-parts of most mosquitoes are constructed for piercing and 



id A 



Fig. 512. — Wing of a mosquito. 



