59 



wings and body, and a short powerful proboscis 

 (Fig. 17). The larvae are aquatic but can also .exist 

 in air. 



Fig. 17. Sand Fly (left}. Owl Midge (right] 



LIFE HISTORY OF THE MOSQUITO 



In common with all other insects shewing 

 complete metamorphosis, the mosquito passes through 

 four stages :-. 



The egg. 

 The larva. 

 The nymph. 

 The imago. 



The Imago. The imago is the well-known 

 winged insect. The emergence of the imago may be 

 seen on the surface of almost any collection of foul 

 water. For some considerable time after hatching 

 (twenty-four hours) the insects refuse to feed. 



In the imago there are marked differences between 

 the male and the female insect. 



The Male. In the male the antennae are 

 markedly plumose. The palps also are long and hairy. 

 The effect is to make the ' head ' of the male mosquito 

 very conspicuous (Fig. 18). 



The male mosquito does not feed upon blood, and 

 the proboscis is only used to suck vegetable juices. 



