WYEOMYIA VAXDITZEEI 67 



Harpagones small, forming a basal cone. Unci similar to harpagones, but 

 smaller. Basal lobes each with three setae. 



Larva, Stage IV (see figure of entire larva, plate 43). Head rounded, with 

 prominent hind angles ; antenna small, slender, with a single hair beyond the 

 middle; head-hairs short, single. Thorax transverse, rounded subrectangular, 

 mesothorax forming a wavy lateral outline; lateral hairs in part long, the long 

 ones few, the short tufts abundant ; dorsal hairs verj^ small, single or in small 

 tufts; a short, densely feathered tuft on lateral margin of prothorax. Abdomen 

 rather stout, the segments submonilifomi, slightly elongate posteriorly, of equal 

 width ; lateral hairs numerous on first and second segments, single on third to 

 seventh ; subdorsal and subventral hairs in small, sparse tufts, the subdorsal tufts 

 in a single row. Air-tube slender, over five times as long as wide, uniform, tip 

 conically tapered ; a row of six small double tufts along anterior margin, a longer 

 double tuft posteriorly, and two small tufts towards the tip ; apical hooks small. 

 Lateral comb of eighth segment a row of single spines nowhere doubled, 

 becoming smaller ventrally. Anal segment about as long as wide with a large 

 dorsal plate ; dorsal tuft of four long hairs on each side ; lateral tuft of two long 

 hairs at angle of plate ; subventral tuft of three rather long hairs. Anal gills 

 large, three times as long as the anal segment, broad, with rounded tips and 

 fine tracheae. 



The larvae live in the water between the leaves of epiphytic plants (Bromeli- 

 aceae) growing on trees. Mr. Junius B. Van Duzee obtained the larva at Estero, 

 Florida. He writes : 



" The movements of the larvfe from the bromelias in general are much more 

 refined than those of other larvae with which I have come in contact. In the 

 first place, none of the Bromelia larvae are so rapidly jerky as the movements 

 of the other larvae ; their movements are more sedate ; both old and young larvae 

 float upward and dowTiward with a graceful undulating movement, and which 

 they use much more effectively and more often than other larvae. Another 

 thing I notice is that they hang straight downward instead of horizontally or 

 at an angle, and also that they remain in the same spot while taking air. The 

 adults bite. Mosquitoes that hatched out from the same Bromelia water from 

 which the specimens of larvae were taken that I sent you, lost no time in dra^nng 

 their fill of blood when I inserted my finger in the breeding-jar." 



In reply to a query Mr. Van Duzee says : 



" Yes, the bromelias contain larvae all the year around ... I find them in the 

 fall, winter, and spring, and expect to find them there in the summer. The 

 dews are very heavy here most of the year, and a dew-drop immediately slides 

 down the leaf into the cup as soon a.? it strikes the bromelia leaf." 



On the other hand, the bromelias at Miami, Florida, where the species also 

 occurs, were all dry in March, as observed by Messrs. Dyar and Caudell. 



The larvffi at Estero, Florida, were associated with Wyeomyia antoinetta, but 

 this species was present in small numbers. 



Southern Florida, 



Estero, larvae taken April 23 and ]\Iay 6, 1906, in water between the leaves 

 of Bromeliaceae (J. B. Van Duzee) ; Osprey, adults captured July 19, 1901, 

 August 31, 1901 (J. G. Webb) ; Biscayne Bay (Mrs. A. T. Slosson). 



This species is very closely allied to Wyeomyia argyrura from Cuba, and we 

 have some doubt whether the two forms should be .separated specifically. We 

 keep them separate, however, on the character used in the table until we obtain 

 fuller material, and especially the larvae of the Cuban form. 



