Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-08-28
For the Lewisburg Chronicle.
Where do the Mosquitoes come from I?

For the Lerisburg Chronicle.
Where do the Mosquitoes come from
Mr.. Editor On warm summer even
ing. when you have heard the peculiar and
musical notes Of the mosquito about your
ears, or felt the gentle insinuation Of his
proboscis, has i. ever occurred to you TO
inquire where they come from? Volumes
have been written on the history Of other
insects, but the musquito is my iavoriie.
Any one may answer The question for
himself, by the use of the following method
os discovering the Origin Of these trouble
some little creatures. Take a lumber
half foil Of rain water, two or three days
after il has fallen. Cover i, with book,
and Sc, i, aside over night. On examina
ton next day, you will probably discover
number of animaculn moving in the
water. Of nearly a white color, with a line
Of brown through the middle. Soon, these
become larger, growing to the length of
the lenlh or eighth part OF dn inch, becom
ing OF brown color, with the head and
Two black eyes distinctly visible. Their
motion, in the wafer, viii remind you of
that of an old politician. being rapid, swim.
ming up and down, and wigglins and wrlg.
Cling with zigzag or serpeniine move
ment. When closely examined, you will
sec The insect has body nearly the size
Of the head, and long, ,apering, iorked,
alIigatorish tail. distinctly marked with
rings or belts with dimnuiive spinal pro.
lections. 10 few days the habits Of the
little wiggler, as we may call him, undergo
change. 10 his youth be is all life and
activity, and at your approach, or the least
agitation Of his native element, he will tim
idly wiggle down to The bottom Of the ves-
sci which contains him. But as his life
advances, he loses his habits of activity,
and becomes boider rs well as more
sluggish, giving signs Of an approaching
metamorphosis. While ia this stale of his
existence. however, you will need no baro.
meter to indicate the state Of the atmos-
phere. If the weather is moist and pleas.
ani.,he whole colony is in constant motion,
this being probably the business season in
the wiggler nation. If however i. is dry
and hot weather, you will see the whole
fraternity with their heads close 10 the
surface of the water, their tails hanging
downwards. perfectly molionless, as though
praying Tor a change of weather.
II you have not paid the closest attention
10 your proteges. you will probably some
morning on examining your tumbIer find
in the open space between your book and
the surface ofthe water. several full grown
mosquitoes, vainly endeavoring 10 make
their escape; and il you feel any wish 10
know where they come from, you can then
soon satisfy yourself by selecting one Of
the largest, bigges, headed, and apparently
LATEST OF the wigsIers.and closely watching
his movements. After sundry impatient
shakes of the head, as if dissatisfied with
his present condition. and determined that
it is high time that something should be
done, he will come to the surface OF the
water TO bid final adieu to the element
from which he originated. He prepares TO
assume a wider and more ethereal state Of
existence. and spreads himself upon the
surface, raising, as il were. one shoulder
from above The water. After strong effort
he effects an opening in The skin, or coat of
mail. which had hitherto confined him, and
begins to develope his real nature. Gene.
rally the breach is effected in the body, or
that division Of the insect next the head,
and is soon enlarged, so as to manises, 10
the attentive observer something Of the
familiar looks Of an old acquaintance.
First you see small projection from the
opening aforesaid. which soon appears like
knee or elbow slowly emerging. .and then
the limb IS stretched out at full length.
This member fully liberated, its powers are
tested by On exercise Of the Joints, some
thing after the manner Of sleepy man
stretching his arms after waking from
long nap. Another leg is then got ou,
with less difficulty, and very soon the new
animal obtains the victory over the old.
ne crocodile tail is showed of backwards,
by the united efforts Of the hind legs. and
kicked away like an old pair of unmentio-
aables to which the owner gladly bids a
f'nal farewell. Then the lore legs are ap.
pied 10 the hood which still covers the