. Domestic mosquitoes. Mosquitoes. moistened, however, they may remain dormant for weeks or even months. When immersed in water they promptly hatch. Under most favorable conditions the wigglers (fig. 4) develop in 6 to 8 days and change into the less active tumbler or pupa stage (fig. 5), from which the adult insect (title page illustra- tion and fig. 2) emerges about 2 days later. The complete develop- ment from egg to adult mosquito is, therefore, 9% to 12 days, or longer in cooler weather or under less favorable conditions. The house mosquitoes have a similar developmental period, but they
. Domestic mosquitoes. Mosquitoes. moistened, however, they may remain dormant for weeks or even months. When immersed in water they promptly hatch. Under most favorable conditions the wigglers (fig. 4) develop in 6 to 8 days and change into the less active tumbler or pupa stage (fig. 5), from which the adult insect (title page illustra- tion and fig. 2) emerges about 2 days later. The complete develop- ment from egg to adult mosquito is, therefore, 9% to 12 days, or longer in cooler weather or under less favorable conditions. The house mosquitoes have a similar developmental period, but they differ markedly from the yellow-fever mosquito in the egg stage. The eggs are laid in boat-shaped masses or rafts (fig. 6) directly on the surface of the water and, if dried, soon lose their ability to hatch. Biting Habits Figure mosquito. Egg of the yellow-fever About 100 times natural. Figure 4.—Larva, or wiggler, of the yellow-fever mosquito. ^y^n. About 10 times natural size. Only the female mosquitoes bite. The males, which have poorly developed mouth parts, drink water and feed on the nectar from flowers. The yellow-fever mosquito bites mainly during the daytime, especially late in the afternoon or early in the morning. In cloudy weather or in the darker portions of rooms it may bite throughout the day. The house mos- quitoes are night biters and hide away in closets and other dark places during the day. Flight Habits The domestic mosquitoes are not long- distance fliers. When abundant about a house, they are usually to be found breeding in the vicinity. This is parti- cularly true of the yellow-fever mosquito. The northern and southern house mos- quitoes may travel a mile or so from the place where they breed. The yellow- fever mosquito seldom travels more than a few hundred yards. It is freely carried about, however, in trains and boats, and in automobiles, airplanes, and dirigibles. Overwintering The northern and southern house, or rain-barrel, mosquitoes over- w
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