The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-09-09
BITING HABIT
Of THE FEVER
MOSQUITO
Dr.. Byrd, Now in Pensacola, Writes
interestingly of the Methods T.
Of the Insect.

DR.. Hiram Byrd, assistant to the
state health officer of Florida, has de-
voted considerable time and paid close
attention to study of all classes or
species of mosquitoes. He has writ
ten a number of most excellent arts
cles upon mosquitoes and their habits,
and his articles on the stegomyia tas'
ciatia, the yellow fever-carrying mos
quito, have been given great publicity
and attracted considerable attention
among the medical fraternity.
The following, from DR.. Byrd, on the
biting habits of the stegOmyia fasc.a-
tia, will prove Of special interest at
the present time:
Contradictory Statements.
Next TO knowing at sight the mos
quito himself, nothing is more impor-
tant than to know the biting habits OF
the stegomyia fasciatia.
have seen very little literature
upon this particular phase Of mOsqui-
to lore. and that little is contrad!c-
tory, part claiming that that he bites
chiefly in the day time and part that
he is Of purely nocturnal habits. 1t
is the purpose of this article, there
fore, to state the conditions under
which he bites and doesn't bite, as l
have observed them myself, and 20
interpret certain well known phe
nOmena,
Mate Before Biting.
Only the females bite, and these not
till after they have mated. Having
once mated they are always fertile,
and though they may deposit, during
life, several filters of eggs, they do
not need to mate a second time.
After mating the females go in quest
Of blood. When they bite they I'LL the
stomach very full. They will not bite
any more now till that IS all digested.
This takes two to three days when
the weather is warm, but when 1t is
cool the vital processes are a little
slower, and it takes somewhat longer.
The stegomyia fasciata have two
daily mating periods; one in the morn
ing, which lasts from early dawn till
9 or 10 o'clock, and one in the after
noon. which lasts from or 5 o'clock
till dark. They occasionally mate at
all hours of the day, particularly if IT,
be cloudy and still.
Begin Early in Morning.
They begin biting also at early
dawn, and by or 10 o'clock the Bit
ing has reached its height. So 1t con
Uinues TIL they have become mated IT
till the afternoon draws on After 5
or 60 clock the biting subsidies in a
measure, but does not completely
cease till the lights are out at night.
If they ever bite in the dark it is the
rarest exception. 1t is to be added
just here that during the noon hours
of our hottest and brightest days the
biting subsidies a little.
And, though they bite only in the.
day, they assiduously avoid sunlight.
I doubt if one ever makes an attack,
no matter how hungry, where the sun
is shining. or even ventures into sun.
light when It can be avoided. If taken
into the sun in captivity, they become
restless Even In the Wriggler and
pupa stages they seek the shady part
of the vessel.
Avoid Light and Wind.
Not only do they avoid the direct
light Of the sun, but they also avoid
bright skylight, creeping up insidioJs-
" on the shaded side, when they go
to make an attack.
They likewise avoid the wind, sell
dom attacking even in a mOderat e
breeze. and then always on the lee
ward side.
They are also shy of motion-easi-
~ driven away, but persistent to re-
turn.
Stegomyia is Wary.
Upon the whole. the stegomyia fac