57 



Chapter VI 

 MOSQUITOES 



Mosquitoes belong to the order of Diptera, or 

 true flies, which are characterised by : 



1. A single pair of membranous wings. 



2. Suctorial mouth. 



3. Complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, 



nymph). 



They differ from all other flies in that they have 

 scales on the wings and body. 



In all mosquitoes, except the genera Corethra 

 and Mochlonyx, there is a long piercing proboscis, 

 which is characteristic of the Culicidae. 



Fig. 15. Chironomus 



Flies which may be mistaken for mosquitoes are : 

 I. Chironomidae (Midges), e.g. Chironomus. 

 Costal vein does not extend beyond the tip of the wing. 

 Antennae of male densely feathered. Legs long and 

 slender (vide ch. xxxiii). They do not possess the 

 characteristic proboscis of mosquitoes. The veins of 

 their wings are more complex, and are quite devoid of 

 scales (Fig. 15). 



