POND LIFE. 



135 



Adult MosQUixoES.—The form of mosquitoes is 

 very well known, but there are certain mosquitolike 

 insects that are liable to be mistaken for members of 

 this family. Mosquitoes differ from these, however, 

 in having a fringe of scalelike haira on the margin of 

 the wing and also on each of the wing-veins. Fig. 



Fig no. — ^Wing of mosquito. 



1 10 represents the wing of a mosquito as seen through 

 a microscope. 



The sexes of mosquitoes can be distinguished by 

 the form of the antennas ; at /« in Fig. 1 1 1 is repre- 

 sented the antenna of a male, and/ 

 the antenna of a female. 



It is only the females that sing 

 and bite ; the males are mute and 

 live on the juices of plants. 



The eggs are laid side by side in 

 a boat-shaped mass on the surface of 

 the water. One of these is repre- 

 sented floating in Fig. 107. By col- 

 lecting a mass of this kind and putting it in a vessel 

 of water, the complete life history of these insects 

 can be observed. 



Mosquitoes belong to the order of two-winged 

 insects or flies. Collect some adults and, if you have 

 very slender pins, pin them ; if not, mount them on 



Fig. 



of mosquitoes.- 'z«, 

 male ; _/", female. 



