520 MOSQUITOES OF ^^ORTH AMERICA 



M. perturbans, but essentially the same in character. This portion of the tube is 

 a modification of the closing apparatus of the ordinary Culicid type of tube ; it 

 is provided, however, with serrations for piercing the tissues of the plant and 

 with terminal hooks for retaining its hold. The pupae also greatly resemble 

 those of perturbans. As in that species, the stellate hair-tuft of the first abdom- 

 inal segment, which in floating pupge serves to lock them to the surface film, 

 is here obsolete, while the anal paddles are narrow and cleft at the apex. The 

 breathing tubes are long and in their terminal portion are each provided with a 

 long strongly chitinized hook for insertion into the roots of the water-plant." 



This mosquito is very troublesome in localities that furnish suitable breeding 

 conditions. Its bite is said to be unusually painful and Dr. Grabham states that 

 " its saliva is distinctly acid." He has observed this mosquito attacking horses. 

 Mr. E. A. Schwarz took specimens in the house, in Cuba, in the middle of the 

 day. Mr. Argyle McLachlan gives us the note " brown specimens with green 

 eyes, assume the position with abdomen lower than thorax, the tip of the abdo- 

 men almost touching the surface on which the mosquito rests." Dr. Goeldi has 

 figured this posture and states that on account of this peculiar posture this mos- 

 quito is not easily seen when at rest. Goeldi states further that Mansonia 

 titillans is crepuscular and in the outskirts of Para frequently enters houses at 

 nightfall, along with M. fascioJatvs which practically has identical habits. Like 

 other crepuscular mosquitoes, it will attack in the shade of the forest during the 

 day. Pazos states that titillans is very blood-thirsty and when attacking does 

 not easily let go and will almost allow itself to be seized with the hand. His 

 attempts to obtain eggs from captive females failed. 



In spite of the very wide distribution indicated below, this mosquito is local, 

 and occurs only in localities which furnish the proper larval habitat. In other 

 words, it occurs only where there are swamps and permanent bodies of water in 

 which the floating plant Pisti-a (and perhaps others of similar habit) grows, and 

 to which the larv^ are attached. It is therefore most in evidence in moist 

 regions and, where found, is one of the most annoying mosquitoes by its per- 

 sistence and painful bite. 



South America, except the extreme southern part and the west coast below 

 Ecuador; Central America to tropical Mexico; the West Indies and southern 

 Florida. 



Sao Paulo, Brazil (A. Lutz) ; River Corentyne, Dutch Guiana, July 1, 1908 

 (J. Aiken) ; Surinam, Dutch Guiana (H. Polak) ; New Amsterdam, British 

 Guiana, May, 1907 (J. Aiken) ; Georgetown, British Guiana (H, W. B. Moore) ; 

 Berbiee, Bntish Guiana (J. Aiken) ; Trinidad, West Indies, June, 1905 (A. 

 Busck) ; Kingston, Jamaica, November 16, 1906 (M. Grabham) ; Cayamas, 

 Cuba, February 24 to June 11 (E. A. Schwarz) ; San Antonia de los Banos, Cuba 

 (J. H. Pazos) ; Lion Hill, Canal Zone, Panama (A. Busck) ; Punta de Peiia, 

 Panama, 1907 (E. E. B. McKenny) ; Bluefields, Nicaragua (W. F. Thornton) ; 

 Panzos, Guatemala, June, 1904 (0. F. Cook) ; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, 

 August 18, 1903 (W. L. Stone) ; Polochic River, Guatemala, March 22, May 1, 

 1906 (Schwarz & Barber) ; Polochic River, Guatemala, June 2, 1907 (A. Mc- 

 Lachlan) ; Cacao, Trece Aguas, Alta Vera Paz, Guatemala, April 8 to 20, 1906 

 (Schwarz & Barber) ; Point Patuca, Honduras, April 11, 1909 (W. H. Sligh) ; 

 Frontera, Tabasco, Mexico, February 15 (C. H. T. Townsend) ; La Oaxaquena 

 near Santa Lucrecia, State of Vera Cruz, Mexico, October, 1911 (F. W. Urich) ; 

 Las Penas, near Tepic, State of Jalisco, Mexico, June, 1906 (A. Duges) ; Pali- 

 zada, Mexico (A. Duges) ; Nautla, Mexico (A. Duges) ; Tampico, Mexico (J. 

 Goldberger) ; Warner's Camp, north Shore of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, March, 

 1906 (J. H. Egbert). Also reported from Vera Cruz, Mexico (Parker, Beyer & 

 Pothier) ; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; New Amsterdam, British Guiana ; Welldad, 

 British Guiana; Cedros, Trinidad, British West Indies; Antigua; Jamaica 



