no 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



identical habits, though in some instances there are wide divergen- 

 cies. Fortunately the disease carriers rarely fly more than 200 

 yards or thereabouts, a marked contrast to the troublesome salt 

 marsh mosquito, which has been known to make its way 40 miles 

 or more from its breeding grounds. The eggs of certain species 

 float upon the water, hatch soon, and within 15 or 20 days mos- 

 quitos are flying again. Others deposit ova in water or damp 

 places, where they remain unhatched till the following spring. 

 The eggs of some species develop simultaneously, those of others 

 at irregular intervals, due to successive inundations by rain or sea. 

 The wrigglers or larvae are very diverse; a few have no air tubes, 

 others very short ones, some are moderate in length and a few 

 possess extremely attenuated breathing tubes [see pi. 3, fig. 1, 2, 3]. 

 This usually large appendage is frequently of great service in 

 identifying species. Certain wrigglers occur only in clear water, 

 others in either clear or foul pools, still others prefer brackish 

 water, and the larvae of one species are remarkable because they 

 live only in the water of the semiaquatic pitcher plants [pi. 6, 

 fig. 2, pi. 7, fig. 1]. Adult mosquitos vary widely; some are 

 brightly marked with yellow and rich browns, many have white 

 banded legs, while the color of others is obscure. Great diversity 

 also obtains in their habits. Some are extremely bloodthirsty and 

 wander long distances in search of victims, others remain close to 

 their breeding places, rarely biting man, and certain forms do not 

 molest him even when their haunts are invaded. The wrigglers 

 or larvae have widely different habits. These conditions would 

 seem to render mosquito control impossible. Such is not the case 

 because the dangerous places are near-by small pools, standing 

 water in other receptacles such as barrels [pi. 5, fig. 1], cisterns 

 and cesspools. The problem is further simplified by the fact that 

 comparatively few species in a locality are annoying. 



Our native malarial mosquitos have nearly identical habits. The 

 spotted-winged adults [pi. 4, fig. 2], easily recognized by their 

 resting with the beak and body in a straight line, winter in almost 

 any available shelter. Eggs are deposited on the surface, prefer- 

 ably in grassy or weedy, rather shallow, fresh-water pools [pi. 5, 

 fig. 2]. The very short-tubed wrigglers hatch soon and feed at 

 the surface. The life cycle occupies between three and four weeks 

 and breeding is continued during most of the warm weather. 

 Recently excavated spring pools [pi. 6, fig. 1] appear to be excep- 

 tionally attractive to these insects, even though the water surface 



