250 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. VIII, 
does not suck human blood. Occasionally females are found 
with the antennz quite plumose, so much so as to resemble 
males at first sight. Therefore all supposed males seen sucking 
blood should be caught and examined carefully as to sex. 
Observations at Gatun suggest that a blood meal is necessary 
before normal oviposition can take place. Darling (1910 p.27), 
records a case of a virgin Aedes calopus with developed ova 
after it had but one meal. In another place he states that the 
eggs from virgins are sterile. In the laboratory, freshly emerged 
tarstmaculata did not copulate during the first two days when 
deprived of all food, but a few did so on the third day. Whena 
meal was given the first day, copulation was noted early the 
next day. Dissection of females three days old showed the 
ovaries most developed in those individuals which had had food. 
The daily flights to Gatun were in quest of food, and the morning 
return flight was most probably for the purpose of oviposition. 
That it was not for shelter 1s evident since abundant shelter 
is found under buildings in Gatun, and this shelter was made use 
of by large numbers of mosquitos. It appears from the few 
observations made that copulation takes place in the air, 
during the morning return flight. Occasional males were 
picked up in the flight to Gatun, but always near the breeding 
place and during the morning return flight. More males were 
noted at the return flight than in the evening one. ° 
Laboratory experiments indicate that after a good blood 
meal an Anopheles does not bite again until after the pellet of 
waste is evacuated. When no blood meal was available, 
Anopheles were seen to suck water. Usually after a meal on 
ripe banana, a drink of water was taken. 
Kept in a screen cage of about two cubic feet, and controlling 
light, heat and moisture as much as possible, with a few crushed 
raisins as food, adult tarstmaculata were kept alive twenty-six 
days. How long they may live outdoors cannot be said, 
however, it appears certain that they cannot be as long-lived 
as are some of the mosquitos of colder climate. The severity 
of heat and moisture lower the life duration period, and the 
depreciation brought about by this check is counterbalanced 
by increased reproduction and more rapid development of the 
pre-adult stages. 
