ADDITIONAL NOTES. IV.
MUSQUITO.
So from deep lakes the dread musquito springs,
Drinks
the soft breeze, and dries
his tender wings. CANTO
I.
1.
327.
|
THE gnat,
or
musquito,
culex
pipiens.
The
larva
of
this
insect
lives
chiefly
in
water,
and
the
pupa
moves
with
great
agility.
It
is
fished
for
by
ducks;
and,
when
it
becomes
a
fly,
is
the
food
of
the
young
of
partridges,
quails,
sparrows,
swallows,
and
other
small
birds.
The
females
wound
us,
and
leave
a
red
point;
and
in
India
their
bite
is
more
venomous.
The
male
has
its
antennæ and
feelers
feathered,
and
seldom
bites
or
sucks
blood;
Lin.
Syst.
Nat.
It
may
be
driven
away
by
smoke,
especially
by
that
from
inula
helenium,
elecampane;
and
by
that
of
cannabis,
hemp.
Kalm.
It
is
said
that
a
light
in
a
chamber
will
prevent
their
attack
on
sleeping
persons.
The
gnats
of
this
country
are
produced
in
greater
numbers
in
some
years
than
others,
and
are
then
seen
in
swarms
for
many
evenings
near
the
lakes
or
rivers
whence
they
arise;
and,
I
suppose,
emigrate
to
upland
situations,
where
fewer
of
them
are
produced.
About
thirty
years
ago
such
a
swarm
was
observed
by
Mr.
Whitehurst
for
a
day
or
two
about
the
lofty
tower
of
Derby
church,
as
to
give
a
suspicion
of
the
fabric
being
on
fire.
Many
other
kinds
of
flies
have
their
origin
in
the
water,
as
perhaps
the
whole
class
of
neuroptera.
Thus
the
libellula,
dragon
fly:
the
larva
of
which
hurries
amid
the
water,
and
is
the
cruel
crocodile
of
aquatic
insects.
After
they
become
flies,
they
prey
principally
on
the
class
of
insects
termed
lepidoptera,
and
diptera
of
Linneus.
The
ephemera
is
another
of
this
order,
which
rises
from
the
lakes
in
such
quantities
in
some
countries,
that
the
rustics
have
carried
cart-loads
of
them
to
manure
their
corn
lands;
the
larva
swims
in
the
water:
in
its
fly-state
the
pleasures
of
life
are
of
short
duration,
as
its
marriage,
production
of
its
progeny,
and
funeral,
are
often
celebrated
in
one
day.
The
phryganea
is
another
fly
of
this
order;
the
larva
lies
concealed
under
the
water
in
moveable
cylindrical
tubes
of
their
own
making.
In
the
fly-state
they
institute
evening
dances
in
the
air
in
swarms,
and
are
fished
for
by
the
swallows.
Many
other
flies,
who
do
not
leave
their
eggs
in
water,
contrive
to
lay
them
in
moist
places,
as
the
oestros
bovis;
the
larvæ of
which
exist
in
the
bodies
of
cattle,
where
they
are
nourished
during
the
winter,
and
are
occasionally
extracted
by
a
bird
of
the
crow-kind
called
buphaga.
These
larvæ are
also
found
in
the
stomachs
of
horses,
whom
they
sometimes
destroy;
another
species
of
them
adhere
to
the
anus
of
horses,
and
creep
into
the
lowest
bowel,
and
are
called
botts;
and
another
species
enters
the
frontal
sinus
of
sheep,
occasioning
a
vertigo
called
the
turn.
The
musca
pendula
lives
in
stagnant
water;
the
larva
is
suspended
by
a
thread-form
respiratory
tube;
of
the
musca
chamæleon,
the
larva
lives
in
fountains;
and
the
fly
occasionally
walks
upon
the
water.
The
musca
vomitoria
is
produced
in
carcases;
three
of
these
flies
consume
the
dead
body
of
a
horse
as
soon
as
a
lion.
Lin.
Syst.
Nat.
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