2 
HOW TO COLLECT MOSQUITOES 
(CULICID^). 
Introduction. 
Systematic Position, Distinctive Characters, and 
Life History of Mosquitoes. 
Mosquitoes or gnats (strictly speaking, the terms are 
synonymous) are the names popularly applied to the family 
Culicidse, of the order of insects known as Diptera {I'lvo- 
winged Flies), which also includes, besides other families 
the species of which are more or less gnat-like in form, such 
as the true midges (Chironomidie), fungus-midges (Myceto- 
philidae), daddy long-legs (Tipulidas), &c., a large number 
the members of which are more “ fly ’’-like in shape, e.g.^ the 
blue-bottles and house-flies (Muscidae.), tsetse-flies (Glossina), 
horse-flies (Tabanidse), hover-flies (Syrphidae), &c. 
Culicidse are by no means the only blood-sucking Diptera, 
for the order also comprises the blood-sucking midges 
(genus Oeratopogon, belonging to the family Chironomidae), 
the Simulidae, Tabanidae, and blood-sucking Muscidae 
{Glossina, Slomoxys, Hcematuhia). ■ The females of all of 
these suck blood in the perfect state, while the males are 
usually harmless, though in the tsetse-fly the blood-sucking 
habit is stated to be common to both sexes,* as has been 
asserted to be the case in certain species of mosquitoes {see 
below, “ Observations on Habits, Distribution,” &c,, pp. 12-13) 
The other blood-sucking Diptera, with the possible excep- 
tion of Geratupogon, are sufficiently distinct from Culicidai 
* Surgeon-Major David Bruce, A.M.S., “ Further Report on the Tsetse 
Fly Disease or Nagana, in Zululand,” p. 3 (London : Harrison k. Sons, 1897). 
1831 
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