THE MOSQUITO. 



09 



an eagerness chastened by the most refined delicacy for the 

 feelings of her victim, and with the air of Velpeau redivivus, 

 drives through crushed and bleeding capillaries, shrinking nerves 

 and injured tissues, a many-bladed lancet of marvellous fine 

 ness, of wonderful complexity and fitness. While engorging 

 herself with our blood, we will examine under the microscope 

 the mosquito s mouth. The head (Fig. 61) is rounded, with 

 the two eyes occupying a large part of the surface, and nearly 

 meeting on the top of the head. Out of the forehead, so to 

 speak, grow the long, delicate, hairy antennae (a), and just be 

 low arises the long beak which consists of the bristle-like max 

 illa) (mx, with their palpi, mp} and mandibles (m), and the 

 single hair-like labrum, 

 these five bristle-like or- 

 gans being laid in the hol 

 lowed labium (Z). Thus 

 massed into a single awl- 

 like beak, the mosquito, 

 without any apparent effort, 

 thrusts them all except the 

 labium into the flesh. Her 

 hind body may be seen fillr 

 ing with the red blood, un 

 til it cries quits, and the 

 insect withdraws its sting 

 and flies sluggishly away. 

 In a moment the wounded 

 parts itch slightly, though 

 a very robust person may 

 not notice the irritation, or a more delicate individual if asleep ; 

 though if weakened by disease, or if stung in a highly vascular 

 and sensitive part, such as the eyelid, the bite becomes really 

 a serious matter. Multiply the mosquito a thousand fold, and 

 one flees their attacks and avoids their haunts as he would a 

 nest of hornets. Early in spring the larva (Fig. 62, A) of the 

 mosquito may be found in pools and ditches. It remains at 

 the bottom feeding upon decaying matter (thus acting as a 

 scavenger, and in this state doing great benefit in clearing 

 swamps of miasms), until it rises to the surface for air, which 

 it inhales through a single respiratory tube (c) situated near 

 the tail. When about to transform into the pupa state, it 



61. Head of the Mosquito. 



