Il6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



sive evidence of near-by breeding places and should lead to an 

 exhaustive search for the source of the trouble. It must be remem- 

 bered that mosquitos breed in all manner of places where there is 

 standing water and that it is the easiest thing in the world to 

 overlook a prolific breeding spot. 



Compaign work against mosquitos may be outlined briefly as 

 follows: First, recognize the troublesome species and if possible 

 drain all dangerous breeding areas, supplementing this by judicious 

 filling and oiling and do away with or cover tightly tanks, cisterns, 

 barrels [pi. 5, fig. i], old bottles, etc. This, supplemented by the 

 introduction in waters uncared for by the above means of gold fish, 

 top minnows, killifish and the like, will result in destroying most 

 of the larvae, particularly if the borders of small undrained pools 

 can be deepened slightly, so that the fish will have access to all 

 parts. These little creatures are voracious feeders on mosquito 

 larvae and can be depended on to keep the pests in check if given 

 a fair opportunity. There is no doubt as to the outcome of judi- 

 cious efforts to control mosquitos, and we confidently look forward 

 to a time when this will be generally appreciated and the presence 

 of swarms of these insects rightly attributed to indifference or 

 incompetence, rather than to supposedly insuperable obstacles to 

 their eradication. It logically follows that mosquitos must be 

 declared nuisances and adequate provision made for their suppres- 

 sion or control through both private and public agencies. 



STUDIES IN CECIDOMYIIDAE 



The gall gnats are extremely interesting not only because of the 

 peculiar vegetable malformations produced but also on account of 

 the striking morphologic characters presented, particularly in the 

 high specialized antennae. The galls caused by members of this 

 group are better known than the insects, and as our recent studies 

 of species affecting forest and shade trees in particular have resulted 

 in the rearing of a number of forms previously unknown in the 

 adult, this opportunity is taken of characterizing the various stages 

 of several species, so far as the material secured will permit. The 

 generic references must be considered as provisional only, at present. 



Goldenrod leaf gall (Lasioptera carbonifera n. sp.). 

 This species produces oval, brown or black, blisterlike galls about 

 y\ of an inch long on goldenrod. It was described by Osten 

 Sacken from the gall, was referred to the genus Cecidomyia, and 

 so far as we can learn the adults which were bred from this species 

 in some numbers the latter part of June have remained uncharacter- 

 ized. This interesting form is described below. 



