REPORT OX ^lOSOUITOES. 27 



Very few direct experiments were made on this point with 

 other than the species above mentioned; but pubHshed records 

 indicate that in captivity some species will not develop eggs or 

 lay them until after a meal of blood. Whether that would hold 

 equally true of the same species under entirely natural conditions, 

 may be considered questionable. Incidentally it may be said 

 that not only are all warm-blooded animals and all birds attacked 

 by mosquitoes, but the reptiles also, where they afford an opening. 

 On the whole, the balance of evidence is perhaps against the idea 

 that blood is a necessity for egg development. This is further 

 indicated by the fact that Anopheles goes into hibernation with- 

 out having fed, and that there are few records of biting early 

 in the season, before these hibernating forms lay their eggs to 

 produce the first brood of larvje. I do not mean to assert that 

 Anopheles has never been observed biting in spring; only that 

 the habit is exceptional and that, so far as the general observ- 

 ations go, hibernating female Anopheles are not dependant upon 

 a blood meal to enable them to reproduce their kind. Dr. John- 

 son records that Anopheles in spring bites even during the day, 

 tut I have not observed that. 



That mosquitoes feed upon vegetable juices as well as blood 

 is certain. As to the males it must be so, if they feed at all ; for 

 their mouth structures are not adapted to puncture the skin or 

 to suck blood. Besides, I have obsen-ed them in great number in 

 wild cherry blossoms in the early evening, apparently busied in 

 getting at the nectar. Females have been obser\-ed at the same 

 time ; but apparentlv these abandoned the vegetable food readily, 

 when the animal odor advised tliem of something more to their 

 taste. In captivity all species feed readily on the juices of almost 

 any fruit that is offered. Banana, apple, pear and plum have been 

 tried by me or under my direction and all answer equally well. 



In nature, specimens are often taken with the stomach filled 

 "by a colorless liquid like plant nectar, and, on the other hand, 

 in sollicitans, I have often found it filled by a mass which I 

 <;ould not distinguish from thin marsh mud. The conclusion is 

 that, on the whole mosquitoes are not dependent upon blood food 

 to sustain life. It is pertinent and yet seems a little out of place, 

 to add to this that some species of mosquitoes have never been 

 Icnown to attack a wann-blooded animal no matter how well 

 the opportunity ser\-ed. Others seem to bite only under except- 

 ional circumstances and almost every species has some peculiarity 

 •of its own to distinguish its method of attack. 



A mosquito bites, primarily to obtain food; there is neither 

 malice nor venom in the intent, N\hatever there may be in the 

 act. Theoreticallv tliere would seem to be no reason whv there 



