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

42 MOSQUITOES OF NORTH AMERICA
areas. Railway trains, ships, and the modern automobile fur-
nish excellent means of transportation.
The of Activity
The period of activity of adult mosquitoes is of great inter-
est. Our anophelines are mainly crepuscular, confining their
activities to the twilight hours of evening and morning. Ano-
pheles atropos bites freely during the day in direct sunlight and
also attacks at night. The other species may bite during cloudy
days or when their haunts are invaded during the day time.
The yellow fever mosquito is strictly diurnal. The common
house mosquitoes are nocturnal but also bite during dark days
and in darkened rooms. All our far northern Aed’es species
are primarily diurnal. Aedes spencerii attacks with vigor in
bright sunlight. Acdes camdemis, A. stimulans, A. excrucians
and A. fitchii attack fiercely during late afternoon. In cloudy
weather, and in woodlands, they are easily aroused to un-
wonted activity at almost any time by the presence of blood.
Taeniorhywhus perturbans, though primarily crepuscular, will
attack in dark woods at almost any time. It also bites late
into the night if it can gain access to bed rooms.
Mathag Habits
The mating habits of a number of our common species have
been observed. The yellow fever mosquito mates shortly af-
ter emergence, during the daytime and while in flight. The
act occupies, only a few seconds and the males seek out the fe-
males with great eagerness. In most of the other species ob-
served, the males swarm. The males of Czhlex pipiem gather
towards evening, usually near sunset, in great numbers. They
hover over tall objects as telephone poles, trees and shrubbery
and frequently appear as great clouds. The swarm consists
entirely of males and they fly up and down and weave in and
out amongst each other. Into this swarm dart the females
and emerge united with a male. This continues till darkness
brings about the dispersion of the swarm. Similar swarm-