U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 64, Part III. Issued April 2, 1907. 



SOME MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS OF THE WORK 

 OP THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY 



A. 



NOTES ON " PUNKIES." 



( Ceratopogon spp . ) 



By F. C. Pratt, 

 Special Field Agent. 



INTRODUCTION. 



While in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Bluemont, Ya.. a few 

 years ago the writer heard reports concerning "biting gnats,'' which 

 were said to bite furiously before rains. At that time his stay was 

 of short duration, and a dry summer prevented him from securing 

 specimens. In 1904, however, during another visit to the same local- 

 ity one rainy week, July 21-28, he was harassed by myriads of these 

 minute flies, which were extremely numerous and active after as well 

 as before rains. They proved to be Ceratopogon guttipennis Coq., 

 one of the smaller Chironomidse. Mr. D. W. Coquillett has recently 

 made a careful sj^stematic study of the specimens belonging to the 

 genus Ceratopogon contained in the United States National Museum 

 collection, including those reared at the insectary of this Department 

 and by the writer, and the determinations of the species here men- 

 tioned are his. The records of these rearings are brought together in 

 the present paper with the addition of such data as have been commu- 

 nicated by collectors and correspondents. 



Prior to 1902 little had been published on any of these pernicious 

 insects beyond scattered notices such as were furnished in a previous 

 bulletin of this Bureau, on the bite of C. stellifer Coq. in Texas. As 

 the bibliographic references have never been collected, the writer 

 has brought together all data and accompanying illustrations, with 

 such references to the biting and other habits of this group as he has 

 been able to find. 



CERATOPOGON GUTTIPENNIS Coq. 



The flies of the species ( 'eratopogon guttipennis will bite any exposed 

 part of the body, preferring, however, the hairy parts. At one time 

 25 individuals were counted in the hair on the head o( the writer's 

 8-year-old hoy guide at Bluemont, Va. They are persistent in their 

 endeavors to obtain blood, piercing the skin and Idling up with blood 

 so as almost to lose semblance to Hies. In many cases an itching 



a Bui. 44, Div. Km.. V. S. Dept. ^gric, i>. 92, L904. 



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