22 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., '08 



Notes on the Larval Habits of Culex perturbans. 



BY JOHN B. SMITH, Sc. D. 



(Plates III, IV) 



The larva of Culex perturbans has eluded the search of all 

 that have sought it up to the present time. Goeldi found a 

 closely allied species in South America, and from the eggs 

 secured the first stage. Beyond that he could not carry them 

 and all died without feeding. Dr. Dyar had the same exper- 

 ience with perturbans, the first stage and egg-boat of which he 

 secured in captivity and described. Our experience in New 

 Jersey was not different, and in my report for 1906 I gave 

 an account of what had been theretofore learned concerning 

 this elusive creature. 



Our experience had very greatly narrowed the' scope of 

 the investigation, by eliminating all the usual breeding places 

 and methods of other mosquitoes and had pointed very strongly 

 to certain permanent bodies of water containing considerable 

 vegetation. 



Perturbans is not usually a common species and the only 

 locality from which I have annually received it in large num- 

 bers is Lahaway, in Ocean County, the collector being my old 

 friend, J. Turner Brakeley, who has done so much to help 

 along this mosquito investigation. He did not fail to obtain 

 them again in 1907, and sent them in by the hundred during 

 July. As I was unable to get to Lahaway myself, at that 

 time, I sent Mr. John A. Grossbeck to make the hunt for me 

 on July 3ist, and accompanied by Mr. Brakeley, who pointed 

 out the most likely places, Mr. Grossbeck found that eggs were 

 laid in rafts on the surface of the water in densely grass 

 or sedge-covered areas and that these boats sank readily when 

 disturbed unless supported against a stalk or blade of grass. 

 Sixty-nine egg boats were taken from one pool 25 x 35 feet, 

 and others were found in similar areas. A few very young 

 larvae were found, but not under such conditions as to indicate 

 their actual habits. 



With this knowledge Mr. Grossbeck succeeded in locating 

 another swamp area near Trenton, 6 or 7 acres in extent, in 

 which egg boats were also found in some numbers. 



