How to Mount Mosquitoes 



their proper colour and size. After this period they may be killed 

 and mounted for examination. 



The mounting q/ Anopheles. In making a collection of 

 mosquitoes it is desirable to get as perfect specimens as possible, 

 and for this reason the " anopheles " which have been caught or 

 bred from larvae, should not be kept alive in the bottles longer than 

 is necessary, lest by rubbing their wings against the glass when 

 flying about, some of the scales may be rubbed off. The insects are 

 best killed by dropping a few drops of chloroform on to the muslin 

 covering the mouth of the bottle in which they are confined. Tobacco 

 smoke should not be used for killing mosquitoes as it alters the 

 colour of the markings. Immediately after the insects are dead, 

 they should be turned out on to a clean sheet of cork carpet. If 

 left too long exposed to the fumes of chloroform, the legs become 

 fixed in awkward positions and brittle. Great care should be taken 

 not to touch the insects with the fingers or some of the fine scales 

 will be rubbed off, and if it is necessary to move any of them, a fine 

 needle or pin should be used for the purpose. In order to mount 

 mosquitoes the following articles are necessary : 



4* v (1) Fine entomological 



silver pins (No. 20 size). 



(2) A pair of forceps for 

 holding the pins. 



(3) Common pins. 



(4) Small discs of thin 

 cardboard such as are used 

 for gun wads, the size of a 

 20-bore gun. 



(5) A wooden box, in 

 the floor of which is fixed a 

 layer of cork carpet or pith, 

 into which the pins can be 

 inserted and firmly fixed. 



A card-disc should be 

 taken, and all the data con- 

 cerning the specimen to be 



Fig.- 4 (After Theobald.) \ 



mounted, should be written 

 upon it. Then one of the No. 20 pins should be firmly grasped 



26] 



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