154 THE BREEDING PLACES OF STEGOMYIA 



■when kept dry for six and a half months. In my 

 experience in searching for stegomyia hirvae — and it 

 is now considerable — I have invariably found the rain- 

 water barrel the seat of election for breeding purposes. 

 Given an old wooden barrel, just coated with a green 

 slime, and " worms " will almost invariably be found. 

 So expert did my men become in detecting likely 

 breeding places that they frequently affirmed that 

 worms must be in a barrel from its appearance ; yet 

 a cursory examination of the water failed to reveal 

 their presence. A\^hen, however, the water was poured 

 out to all but a teacupful at the bottom, and this was 

 well agitated, invariably the worms were found. This 

 property of disappearing to the bottom of the recep- 

 tacle and hiding in the chinks between tlie staves and 

 in the groove at the bottom is very characteristic. 

 After barrels come washing-tubs, olive jars, and then 

 every form of water receptacle. I have found them 

 in the blacksmith's shop in his cooling barrel or tank, 

 and in logs. It can be stated that, wherever in or 

 around a house water stagnates, there the larvae will 

 be found. Their presence is a positive test of stagnant 

 water. In the living and bed rooms they are frequently 

 found in receptacles for holding flowers, and in which 

 the water is imperfectly removed ; very frequently, 

 indeed, in vessels in which a cutting of a croton plant 

 is placed in order to make it take root. In my opinion 

 the essential point is that the stagnant water be in or 

 around the house — that is, in the yard or garden. One 

 does not encounter tliem breeding, at any rate in 

 large numbers, away from man ; they are as domestic 



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