Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 63.djvu/465

Rh They may easily be distinguished from the common or Culex family of mosquitoes by the spots upon their wings, and also by the position which they take when at rest (see Fig. 8).

Notice the angle at which the insect shown in Fig. 8 stands out from the wall. Compare this with Fig. 9. It will also be seen that the proboscis, or 'stinger,' and the body of Anopheles form a straight line, while the Culex is rather humpbacked. The other Anopheles, maculipennis, does not stand out from the wall at quite such an angle as does punctipennis; but like the latter its proboscis and body form a straight line, and the angle formed by the insect when at rest is much greater than that of the Culex.

Notice how different is the resting position of the mosquito in Fig. 9 from that of Anopheles in Fig. 8.

The male mosquito (see Fig. 10) never bites. He may be easily distinguished by his large and feathered antennæ and palpi, which are very much more prominent than those of the female.

There is another mosquito, Stegomyia fasciata, which in form and habits closely resembles Culex, in which genus, until quite recently, it was classed. Stegomyia fasciata is the yellow fever mosquito, and it only inhabits the warmer portions of this country. It is common in most of our southern states and is seldom seen north of the Carolinas. It is easily distinguished from other mosquitoes by the conspicuous silvery white stripes upon its thorax and abdomen, and by the white bands upon its legs.

Fortunately for mankind, nature herself provides many energetic workers who are constantly doing their part towards holding in check these insect pests. Foremost among these natural enemies are many of the insectivorous birds, which daily destroy many thousands of mosquitoes. The swallows, the fly-catchers, the night hawks and the whip-poor-wills, all are insect exterminators, whose good work in this connection is seldom taken into account. The bat is also an efficient mosquito hunter; so too are the dragon flies which frequent the shores of ponds and pools where mosquitoes breed.

Besides these enemies of the adult mosquito, which may properly be called their 'foes of the air,' mosquitoes have other adversaries which destroy them in their early stages. These may be termed their 'foes of the water.'

It often happens that we can find no 'wigglers' in small ponds in which we would naturally expect to find mosquitoes breeding. In