about noon
It is called a mosquito -- pronounced _ moskeeto _ -- and it is , perhaps , the most tormenting , the most persevering , savage , vicious little monster on the face of the earth . Other flies go to sleep at night ; the mosquito never does . Darkness puts down other flies -- it seems to encourage the mosquito . Day and night it persecutes man and beast , and the only time of the twenty-four hours in which it seems to rest is about noon , when the heat puts _ it _ down for a little . But this period of rest strengthens it for a renewal of war during the remainder of the day and night . In form the mosquito very much resembles the gnat , but is somewhat larger . This instrument of torture is his nose , which is quite as long as his body , and sharper than the finest needle .