Notes on the Biology and Laboratory Colonization of Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett) (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Since the initial observations on the pitcher plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii (Coquillett), from 1901 to 1904 by Smith (1901), only limited additional contributions have been made toward the understanding of the biology of this species. Horsfall (1955) indicates that, aside from one 1913 citation and a brief reference to his own observations, all material summarized by him about this species was reported by Smith. For the past 50 years, mosquito workers have generally limited their observations on W. smithii to statements of seasonal development in nature, this usually being in conjunction with a more detailed regional study emphasizing the ecology of other mosquito species. The wellknown specificity for the development of W. smithii only in the pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, undoubtedly has precluded much in the way of laboratory investigations on this mosquito. However, during the summer of 1957, a large number of larvae of this species was found just north of Itasca State Park, Clearwater Co., Minn., and the opportunity presented itself to investigate the possibility of rearing W. smithii independent of the pitcher plant. It is the purpose of this paper to describe a method for the laboratory colonization of this mosquito completely free of any pitcher plant association and to make additional contributions to the biology of this species