lo Second Report on Economic Zoology. 



Worplesdon, and invading the rooms in great numbers, are one of 

 our common mosquicoes, formerly known as Cahix annulatus o\ 

 Meigen, now placed in a new genus — Tlieohaldia (Neveu-Lemaire). 

 It is especially noticeable in the autumn, and occurs over the winter, 

 hibernating in houses, cellars, sheds, and under any convenient 

 outdoor shelter. 



" This particular species of mosquito has been very prevalent in 

 the south and south-east of England this autumn. I have found them 

 active during the last two weeks (December 1-14), and the snow has 

 been a foot deep on the ground all the time, and there have been 

 hard night frosts. As you say, it is a very vicious biter, especially 

 during the cold weather. The bite is very painful, and often causes 

 large swellings around the point of insertion of the proboscis. 



" It breeds entirely in water — I have found the larvae and pupa: 

 in pools, in cisterns, in water-butts, etc. It does not fly any great 

 distance. Eggs are laid in the summer upon the water in the form 

 of 'rafts,' and the larvre mature by August and September, but 

 many not until October. The flies causing you annoyance have 

 probably bred close to the house. It would be well to have all rain- 

 barrels, cisterns, etc., looked to about July (and in August), and if 

 the large 'wrigglers,' as the larv;e are called, are present, have the 

 barrels, etc., either emptied or a small quantity of paraffin put upon 

 the surface of the water. This should be done again in August and 

 September. 



" The best way to clear them out of the rooms would be to fumigate 

 tlie rooms with pyrethrum powder (Persian insect powder). You can 

 often buy this insecticide made up into cones for burning, or you can 

 obtain the pure powder and make it up into little cones yourself by 

 moistening it. When dry burn them in the rooms with all windows 

 and doors closed and leave shut up for a day. It is non-poisonous to 

 man and animals, but deadlv to insect life." 



III. Mosquito annoyance {Theohaldia annulata) at 

 Weston-super-Mare. 



Another correspondent, Mr. W. Hatchett Jackson, D.Sc, Ead- 

 cliffe Librarian at Oxford, wrote in January concerning this species 

 as follows : " This mosquito is very much dreaded at my own country 

 house. I have been badly ])itten by it myself and this year it has 

 been so exceptionally numerous that few persons have escaped and 

 some have suffered severely. The consequence of its bite may be so 



