CHAPTER VI 



HARBORING PLACES AND FOOD OF ANOPHELES 



fN uninhabited regions this species feeds on 

 * the blood of birds and animals, juices of 

 fruits and of plants, and probably on the pollen 

 of certain plants. Some observers think that 

 blood is the normal food of female Anopheles 

 and that other food is taken only when blood 

 cannot be obtained. Anopheles apparently try. 

 to obtain more of it than other mosquitoes. We 

 have observed that they do not bite in full sunlight. 

 Constant observations on the Isthmus for a period 

 of eight years, 1904 to 1912, failed to establish a 

 single case. During these years, when numerous, 

 they bit freely in the shade of woods. In 1912, at 

 the breeding area of Gatun, direct sunlight on 

 brightest days did not prevent six or eight Anoph- 

 eles biting the face at one time. The species were 

 Anopheles tarsimaculata and Anopheles alhimanus. 

 They attacked us while up to the knees in water 

 as weU as on shore. It is interesting to note that 



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