334 HOUSEHOLD INSECTS 



remains in a perpendicular position just beneath the 

 surface of the water, presumably with its two short breath- 

 ing tubes in connection with the air. 



Breeding places of punkies. — Comstock says the larvae 

 live under the bark of decaying branches, under leaves, 

 and in the sap flowing from trees. Certain species of the 

 genus Ceratopogon have been bred from horse and cow 

 manure and the larvae have been found on the underside 

 of dry cow dung. The larvae of other species have been 

 found in the nests of ants, while others have been found 

 beneath the bark of old dead trees in moist places. One 

 thing is very evident, namely, that there is abundant 

 opportunity for adding to our scanty knowledge of the 

 habits and life histories of these small but interesting 

 insects. 



Methods of control. — From the very nature of the 

 pests they are hard to control. The smudges recom- 

 mended for the black-flies will also repel the punkies. 

 Screening is of no avail because they pass through any 

 useful mesh. Applications of certain substances to the 

 face and hands, as is done to repel mosquitoes, are often 

 useful in preventing attacks of the punkies. 



References to Economic Literature on "Punkies" 



1895. Comstock, J. H. — Manual for the study of insects, 

 p. 441. 



1896. Lugger, Otto. — Insects injurious in 1896. Bull. 48, Minn. 

 Expt. Stat., pp. 197-198. 



1907. Pratt, F. C. — Notes on "punkies." Bu. Ent. U. S. Dept. 

 Agri., Bull. 64, Pt. III. 

 See the article by Pratt for further references on the habits 

 and distribution of "punkies." 



