332 



^jV economic entomology. 



Fic:. rvSi. 



Larva and pupa of the Culex puiig 



To the family Oilicidce bclono; the mosquitoes, characterizetl 

 by a slender body, long- legs, long antenna', and a small head 



witli month ])arts usually ex- 

 tended to form a beak or pro- 

 boscis. In the male the probos- 

 cis contains a single lancet only, 

 not fitted for puncturing animal 

 tissues, and the antennae are plu- 

 mose ; in the female a series )f 

 five slender, bristle-like lancets 

 forms an effective piercing struct- 

 ure, and the antennae have the 

 joints furnished with a few bristles 

 only. The wings are slender and 

 scaly along the veins. 



The species are quite numerous, 

 and while most of them are pests 

 of the first order, a few seem to 

 enlarged ; with anal flaps of pupa \ li feed ou Other than animal juices. 



more enlarged. (From Howard, Bull. 2s, ^m * • i 



n.s.,u.s.Dept..Agi.,Div.Ent.) " ^^^^ more commou species be- 



long to the genus Culex, in which 

 the wings are unspotted, the palpi of the female are shorter than 

 the beak, and the body is held parallel with the surface upon 

 which the insects rest. The species of Anopheles are fewer in 

 number, but are of relatively greater economic importance, 

 because they have been proved to be intermediate hosts for the 

 parasites causing ' ' malarial' ' fevers. They are larger, as a rule, 

 than Culex, the wings are more or less spotted, the palpi in 

 both sexes are as long as the beak, the body is more linear and 

 is held at an angle to the surface upon which it rests, the beak 

 directed to a point almost midway between the fore and middle 

 legs. 



Some of the species of Culex fly or allow themselves to be 

 carried by the wind for long distances, so that they occasionally 

 appear as pests many miles from any possible breeding-place. 

 The mode of hibernation varies : in Anopheles and some Ctilex 

 the female adult survives ; in other species of Culex the eggs lie 

 over in suitable localities, and in one instance at least the partly- 

 erown lar\a lives throu<''h the winter. 



