MOSQUITOES 55 



to carry malaria to thousands of people. It must be 

 said, however, that our most common and abundant 

 species of mosquitoes have no connection with human 

 diseases, so far as we know, and are of importance only 

 because of their extreme annoyance in biting. 



Mosquitoes are found in both salt and fresh water. 

 It would seem as though these insects bred in greatest 

 numbers in saltwater, and we usually find areas of greatest 

 infestation along the seacoasts. The greater number of 

 our common species of mosquitoes belongs to the genus 

 Culex. So far as known, none of these are disease- 

 carrying. There are three species belonging to the genus 

 Anopheles in the United States that have been shown to 

 carry malaria in some one or more of its forms. Finally, 

 there is one species of mosquito, Aedes calopus, that has 

 been proven to carry yellow fever. In order to control 

 mosquitoes intelligently, one should understand something 

 of their life histories and habits. 



LIFE HISTORY OF A COMMON MOSQUITO 



Throughout the interior of the United States probably 

 the house mosquito, Culex pipiens, is the most common. 

 It is a so-called European species, but has now been de- 

 termined as present quite generally over the country. 

 So far as is known, it neither transmits malaria nor yellow 

 fever to human beings. It is, therefore, of importance 

 largely because it greatly annoys man. We portray its 

 life history (Fig. 20) and habits here, because it is famil- 

 iar to every one and thus serves as an example to show 

 how mosquitoes live. It breeds in almost every place in 

 which fresh water may be found, in quiet pools, road- 



