CHAPTER IV 



MATING 



THE mating of the various species seems to differ 

 almost as much as do their other habits. Lit- 

 tle observation seems to have been made on the sub- 

 ject, except with a few common species. It appears 

 that, although the copulation of mosquitoes was 

 noted by Diego Reviglias in 1728 (in a non-swarm- 

 ing species), and Swinton noted swarming on August 

 20, 1766, in a garden at Oxford, the purpose of 

 gathering for copulation was not recognised until 

 Gilbert White recorded it in 1802. 



The general impression seems to be that the pair- 

 ing takes place toward evening, the males assembling 

 and dancing in large groups, the female flying into 

 the swarm where she is seized by a male, after which 

 the two fly for a short distance together. While 

 this is in a general way true, it is not the universal 

 rule. For instance, P. howardii would mate in Dr. 

 Dupree's laboratory at any time of day, and did not 

 fly during the act, which lasted for some minutes. 

 The female would stand, quietly as a rule, on the floor 

 of the breeding jar, the male beneath and clinging 

 with body parallel to hers. 



The mating of C. consobrinus when in confinement 

 is radically different, and was twice observed by Dr. 



55 



