The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-08-21
SONG or The MOSQUITO.
Some Facts About a Very Interestin
Guu,u,ar

some Facts About a Very Interesting
Summon Creature.
There are in existence $50 species Of
tho mosquito, the larger kinds being
found mostly in tropical regions, where
avery thing pestiferous attains the ut
most size. In the Southern States some
very big varieties of mosquitoes are
found According to the stories told by
natives these gallinippers are some-
times found sitting in rows, like snipe,
along the fence-rails by the roadside.
It is very certain that they do grow to
be moro than half an inch tn body
length, and they find no difficulty in in
dieting their bites through thick
wooden coat and flannel shirt beneath.
Every one feels more or loss OF per-
sonal interest in the mosquito and some-
thing about her life history can not be
otherwise than interesting. Doubtless
You are aware that it is only the female
which bites, the male not being equipped
with beak suitable for the purpose.
She lays her eggs in little bOat-shaped
mass on tho surface of still water and
they are Matched out into little ''wrig-
glers" that navigate the water actively
until they are ready to make their APP
pearance in the world in fiedged condi'
ton. When the wriggler considers that
he has wriggled long enough and Is
prepared for graduation from water into
air, it comes to the surface and proceeds
quiotly to extricate itself from It's skin.
After it has accomplished this process
it uses the cast-off skin as raft and
stands upon it out of the water while 1T
dries its wings. This is the danger
point in the mosquitoes life, for the
slightest breath of wind that ripples
the water is likely to upset the little
raft and drown the unfortunate pas
songer. But, no such unhappy accident
occurring, Miss Mosquito as soon as her
wings arc dry and stiff enough to fly
with, abandous her float and fits airilY
away, first, however, depositing her
eggs on top of the wator, they in turn to
produce moro mosquitoes. This is an
ingenious scheme on the part OF nature
to prevent the possibility OF such mis-
fortune as the mosquitoes dying out
For now that her eggs have been laid 1T
will not Interfere with the reproduction
of tho species if Miss Mosquito should
chance to be killed by well-aimed slap
or otherwise.
Now, the male mosquito, realizing
that he is of no earthly use, save for
continuing his species, docs not mako
any appearance in society, but stays in
the woods or other secluded places until
he dies, which Is not long, because he
mover eats any thing. His female rela-
tives, however, seek inhabited dwell
ings and hunt for gore. 1t does not
appear entirely certain that this blood
sucking habit of the mosquito is an en-
tirely normal ono. Not only Is it un-
necessary TO the continuation of the
creatures life, but some authorities
imagine. that a single gorge of blood
causes the death of tho mosquito for
want of powers to digest it. The mos
quito has projecting from its nose five
long noodles, which it masses together
in tho shape of IN awl and thrusts the
point into the flesh of it's victim. The
five needles thus put together form a
sort of tube, through which the pest
sucks up the blood. 1t has long been
believed that the mosquito introduces
into the blood, when biting, a poisonous
fluid, for the purpose of making the
blood more liquid, SO that IL may now
with greater freedomi but this has never
boon demonstrated scientifically, and in
all probability it is not true, inasmuch
as no poisonous glands have ever been
found among the animals organs. Two
of the five noodles are barbed at the
ends, and 1t is surmised that these may
cause the irritation consequent upon a
bite There are plenty of authenticated
cases where human beings have been
killed by mosquito bites. Men have
boon known to be driven to commit sui
eide to escape tho mosquito torture. -
Washington Star.