18 GRAMMAR OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



CHAPTER IV. 



HISTORY OF THE MOSQUITO/ 



Class Diptera. Order Simuliites. 



Genus Simulia. 



50. THE eggs of the mosquito (Simulia), and 

 the mode in which they are laid, appear to be at pre- 

 sent unknown ; there is, however, little doubt but 

 that, like those of other gnats, they are deposited on 

 the surface of the water, and in that situation are 

 hatched by the warmth of the sun combined with 

 the moisture of the water. 



51. The larva is found on the stems of water- 

 plants (Phellandrium, &c.) ; on those portions 

 which are always covered by the water : it is long, 

 cylindrical, considerably thickened posteriorly, and 

 nearly transparent : its head is distinctly separated 

 from the body, and is of an oblong form ; it has 

 four jaws moving horizontally, each bifid at the 

 tip, and two little horns in the usual place of 



* M. Fries in Entomologisches Archives. 



