DISEASE-BEARING AMERICAN MOSQUITOES 21 



species prevalent in a community may prevent the expenditure of 

 large sums in measures directed against species which are not 

 troublesome there. Furthermore, if occasional mosquitoes are 

 noted in a community where anti-mosquito work is being carried 

 on, knowledge of their species will facilitate determination 

 whether their presence is due to failure of the work or whether 

 they have blown in from the salt marshes or elsewhere. Again, 

 determination of the species causing trouble will make it possible 

 for the director to locate their breeding-places through knowledge 

 of the habits of that particular species. 



This necessary acquaintance with the more common species 

 of mosquitoes can be obtained only by familiarizing oneself with 

 the characteristic outer anatomy of the adult and the larvae, so 

 as to enable one readily to grasp the keys used in classification. 

 Mere character of breeding-place is not a sufficient basis for 

 identification. 



Adults can only be positively identified if they are in good 

 shape — not crushed or damaged and not so old that the char- 

 acteristic markings have worn off. The most favorable age for 

 identification is 1 or 2 days. As soon as caught, the specimen 

 should be placed in a jar of cyanide or other toxic gas until dead, 

 after which it may be pinned through the thorax. If it is desired 

 to preserve the specimen, it should be carefully placed in a tight- 

 closing box containing naphthalene, care being taken to attach 

 an identifying paper to it. 



Larvae and pupae may be placed in bottles of 80 per cent 

 alcohol, which will preserve them indefinitely, so that they will 

 be available for microscopical examination at any time. They 

 may, if desired, for permanent reference, be mounted on slides 

 with Canada balsam. 



ANATOMY OF THE MOSQUITO 



"The mosquito's body," says Headlee, 1 



"like that of most other insects, is made up of three distinct regions — 

 the head, thorax and abdomen. The head is a globular object having 

 (1) a pair of eyes, one on each side of the head; (2) a pair of more (male) 

 or less (female) feathery feelers or antennae; (3) a pair of mouth feelers 

 or palpi; (4) a long, prominent beak. The thorax is long, elliptical and 



lU The Mosquitoes of New Jersey and Their Control," New Jersey Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Stations, Bull. 276, 1916. 



