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HANDBOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



very fast, and throws off its skin several times. The pro- 

 cess of shedding the skin is called moulting. Because these 

 larvae swim with a wriggling motion, we call them wrigglers 

 or wigglers. 



The wrigglers change into club-shaped pupae. This pupa 

 has two breathing tubes attached to its thorax. It swims 

 by means of two little appendages on its tail end. After a 

 few days the skin of the pupa splits open on the back, and 

 the winged mosquito carefully works out of it. It rests on 



FIG. 6. 1 arid 2, mosquitoes ; 3, larva ; 4, pupa. All enlarged. 



the skin until its wings have hardened a little, then it flies 

 away. 



Now after we know the life history of this little pest, we 

 may think about how to fight them. 



It is plain that we should not breed them in barrels or 

 stagnant pools near our homes. In small pools the larvae 

 can be killed by a little kerosene poured on the water. The 

 oil prevents them from breathing. 



Smudge fires offer some protection against the mosquitoes. 

 Hunters and woodsmen often anoint their faces and hands 

 with a mixture of mutton tallow, camphor, and oil of penny- 



