Now we are ready for out talk, which to-day is to be about some of 

 our insect enemies. Where shall I lio-iii? With the mosquito? With 

 the fiy? I suppose we may call mosquitoes and flies our insect ene- 

 mies, so I will speak of these for a few minutes. 



Perhaps the mosquito and fly are as well known to us as any of the 

 insect tribe, but I wonder how many of the l)oys and girls Imow all 

 about the habits of these yory familiar little insects? For instance, I 

 speak of the mosquito as .«?//?. Did you know that Mr. Jlosquito has 

 much better manners than Jlrs. Mosquito? Well, he has, for he never 

 tries to worry or bite us as she does. He is a bashful fellow, and is 

 always found hiding in some out-of-tlie-way place, such as swamps and 

 woods, while his mate amuses herself by trying to sing us to sleep so 

 that she may have a good chance to stab us with her little spear, and 

 suck our blood. 



In our study of these and other insects it will be quite desirable for 

 us to have a small hand magnifying glass in order that we may see 

 them to better advantage. For example, the spear or bill of the mos- 

 quito appears to the naked eye to be made up of a single straight 

 piece, but with a good glass it will be seen to be made up of a number 

 of long thread-like pieces which she can bring together, thus form- 

 ing a tube through which she takes her food. Compare this with 

 the beak of the house fly and note how they differ. Next examine 

 their wdngs. How many does each one have? By this time you will 

 very likely begin to think that these t^^•o insects are related to each 

 other; and so they are. 



How many know where the mosquito lays her eggs, and where the 

 young live during their babyhood? Let us see. Did you ever know 

 mosquitoes to be numerous where there were no ponds, or rain bar- 

 rels, or other standing water? You did not? Very well, if you study 

 them closely you will find that the old mnsnuito lays her eggs in little 

 boat-shaped masses upon the water, and the little ones spend all their 

 time in the water feeding upon decayed matter that is always to be 

 foimd in such places. After a short time the young mosquito, which 

 does not look at all like a mosquito, changes to a different form, and 

 then it frequently comes to the top for air. If you disturb it, it will 

 go wriggling down to the bottom again. What then would you call it? 

 A wiggler? Yes, that is right. After a few days it comes to the top 

 for the last time, the old skin splits open on the back and makes a 

 nice little boat for the full-grown mosquito to stand in until it can 

 stretch its wings and legs, when off it goes to search for food. All 

 this that I have just told you can be readily seen, providinii; you have 

 sharp eyes. 



