a handbook of the mosquitoes of north america - Systematic Catalog ...

BIOLOGY 39
which there is an extensive growth of aquatic vegetation. In
New Jersey, it has been found breeding in cranberry bogs.
Another interesting mosquito, W3~0~~z~ia s~&hii, breeds
only in the water contained within the leaves of the pitcher
plant (Sarraceka pwpurea). The eggs are laid usually in the
younger leaves above the water line. When water reaches
them, they hatch and develop to maturity. The species oc-
curs only where its hos,t plant is found.
HABITS OF THE ADULTS
Food-habits
Mosquitoes have gained their notoriety through their blood
sucking habits and, more recently, by the discovery that they
are the vectors of serious diseases of man. Not all mosquitoes
suck blood; some do not take blood of any kind, while others
restrict themselves to non-mammalian blood, attacking birds,
amphibia, and other hosts. The males are not known to ob-
tain blood and their mouth-parts are so modified that they are
not adapted for piercing. They feed principally on the nec-
tar and juices of plants. Other species, though attacking mam-
mals, do not readily attack man. Our knowledge of the food
of the adults is not very accurate or complete. The domesti-
cated species usually take human blood with avidity. Here
belong Cztlex $pielzs, C&ex qwinquef ascka tus and Aedes aegy-
pti. Culex territam may also be included though it may be
said to be only partly semi-domesticated. Most of our anophe-
lines readily attack man though some of them are said to pre-
fer other mammalian blood. There appears to be consider-
able evidence that the presence of the larger domestic animals
as horses, cows, dogs and pigs near human abodes may reduce
their attacks on man. Most of the Aedine mosquitoes attack
man with the greatest avidity and lurid tales of their blood-
thirstiness can be found in the accounts of arctic explorers,
hunters, trappers, and others who travel in our northern wood-
lands. The attacks of Aedes stiwmlalzs, A. excrucians, A.