190 



MOSQUITOES. 



There .are many other verj^ interesting points in the life- 

 history of this insect. But what earthly good is it to study 

 all these details ? Where is the benefit to farmers ? As a re- 

 ply it might be stated that by knowing all these details it is 

 easy to reduce the numbers of these insects ver^^ materially 

 near our houses; at least this can be done in many cases. 

 Knowing that the eggs are laid upon the water, that larva? 

 and pupae have to live in it and have to come to the surface 

 to breathe air, we have an excellent way of killing vast 



Fig. 154. — Mosquito, male; showing also scales and section through ear. 

 Greatly enlarged. Original. 



numbers. During the summer the writer has kept a sort of 

 census of the number of mosquitoes raised in rain-water in 

 two barrels, and two counts will be given to shov^^ how 

 many mosquitoes can be raised near the farm-house, or 

 where they are most needed! Jul.v 6th, 1896, the water in 

 one barrel was filtered. It contained 35 grams of mosquitoes, 

 each gram, by count, numbering 217, hence 35x217=7,595 

 larvae and pupa;. Besides this 32 egg-masses, each contain- 

 ing on an average 302 eggs, were found, which would hatch 



