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THE SWARMING OF ANOPHELES PUNCTIPENXIS SAY. 
BY FREDERICK KN.\B, \V.\SHINGTON, 1). (’. 
Upon October 7 ami 14 the writer observed the mating liabits of Anopheles 
punetipennis ami as, up to the present, nothing appears to have been made known 
regarding the mating habits in the genus Anopheles, the following notes are offered. 
Much to his surprise the writer fouml that the males of Anopheles swarm as do those 
of Cule.v, although the behavior in the two forms is tpiite different. 
The observations were made on Plummers Island (Marvland) in the Potomac 
River, about ten miles above Washington. Near the highest part of the island is a 
ledge of rock forming an open space surrounded by the woods on three siiles. The 
side towards the river is open, save for a couple of small trees at the edge, and termi- 
nates in a nearly perpendicular cliff. On October 7, shortly before 5 o’clock, the 
writer visited the spot to enjoy the sun-set. The leilge is about sixty feet above the 
water and on its highest part, where some tufts of tall grass grow in a crevice of the 
rock, was a swarm of dancing Diptera. The swarm was directly over the tufts of 
grass, its base seven or eight feet from the ground, the apex five or six feet higher. 
.\lthough in appearance and action (piite unlike Culex pipiens (observed on previous 
occasions) they were recognized as mosquitoes by the prominent palpi and the 
plumed antennae. With a sweep of the net fifteen were secured ami jiroved to be 
males oi Anopheles punetipennis. Their appearance in flight differed horn pipiens 
mainlv by the position of the legs which were held straight behind and close together. 
The palpi and antennae, directed straight forward, also appeared much more prom- 
inent than in pipiens, which, together with the much longer legs, e.xtending out behind, 
gave them a very characteristic appearance. 
In their actions, too, they differed markedly from pipiens. The swarm was 
small, compo.sed of less than a hundred individuals, and was not as compact as the 
swarms of pipiens. The movements of these males were far more free and varied 
than those of pipiens which constantly re])eat the same circumscribed movements. 
The Anopheles Hew about in the swarm in a circling upward or downward “cork- 
screw” course. Their movements were more rapid than those of pipiens and often 
