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' AESTIVATION ' OF MOSQUITOES 



In very hot and dry countries, the Anofhelines 

 which remain through the dry season appear to exhibit 

 some peculiarities in their habits : 



1. Unlike hibernating mosquitoes, they feed 

 regularly and are found full of blood. 



2. The ovaries are in the majority large and the 

 ova fully developed. 



3. They do not lay their eggs even when ' test 

 pools ' are made near the houses in which they abound. 



The Significance of Breeding-Places in the Dry 

 Season. It is usual in hot and dry climates to find 

 in the dry season at most a few breeding-places. It is 

 a mistake to conclude that these represent the distri- 

 bution of Anofhelines in the area in question. Under 

 such conditions careful search will demonstrate that 

 Anophelines are present in small numbers in nearly 

 every hut. 



THE MALE ANOPHELINE 



Little is known as to the habits of the male 

 Anophelines. When they are found in numbers it is 

 probably a sign that breeding is going on at the time. 

 At times the number of males caught in native huts 

 exceeds that of the females. Copulation is said only to 

 occur after the first meal of blood. Annett and 

 Button describe many hundreds of male Anophelines 

 dancing together in midge-like fashion in the villages 

 at dusk. 



FECUNDATION 



Fecundation, it--is thought, takes place generally 

 on the wing. It is also effected in captivity when the 

 Anophelinae are confined in test tubes. 



