252 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



larvae and adults may be shipped safely in vials by mail, pro- 

 vided they are packed in a little cotton and inclosed in a stout 

 box. 



The life cycle of the mosquito is so short, and the different 

 species so easily reared, that there is little difficulty in obtaining 

 adults from either eggs, larvae or pupae, particularly the latter. 

 Soil gathered in wet j^laces in the spring is very likely to produce 

 larvae, provided it be kept covered with an inch or more of water, 

 and with moderate attention the young should develop to adults 

 without trouble, though it is advisable to imitate natural condi- 

 tions so far as convenient. Young larvae are usually easily reared, 

 and as they approach maturity there is less danger of death by 

 disease or from insufficient food. Careful breeding work necessi- 

 tates the isolation of individuals and the preservation of the 

 larval skin with the adult, since it is very easy to confuse species 

 in the larval stage, specially when it is remembered that we have 

 taken larvae belonging to seven species from the same pool and at 

 practically the same time. There is great need of this kind of 

 work, and it is hoped that many will undertake it in the near 

 future, and thus make material additions to our knowledge of the 

 mosquitos of New York State. 



Examples of either adults or larvae, together with records of the 

 conditions under which they were taken, will be welcome, and the 

 entomologist will gladly reciprocate by giving advice in indi- 

 vidual cases, and specially interesting localities may be closely 

 investigated. 



Haunts and breeding places. The haunts and breeding places of 

 mosquitos are of prime importance to one attempting to control 

 the pest, and therefore considerable space will be given to this 

 phase of the subject. We may divide mosquitos in a general 

 way into semidomestic and wild species, the former occurring 

 more or less in the vicinity of dwellings and frequently entering 

 them, while the latter rarely have this habit. 



Anopheles. The members of this genus are of great importance 

 in New York State, because of their malarial carrying powers. 

 The adults are frequently found ii^ the vicinity of dwellings, and 



