474 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Dec. , '08 



pupation might be observed in the laboratory and the duration 

 of the pupal period thus determined. 



Over a hundred larvae were soon under observation, but 

 separated from their vegetable attachments they showed an evi- 

 dent disposition to rise to the surface, there to become sluggish 

 and finally die. Single strands of roots or even small bits of 

 sod taken from the swamp were ignored by the larvae and 

 we ultimately found that if we would bring any to maturing 

 we must secure for them conditions as nearly natural as pos- 

 sible. Accordingly an entire grass tussock was brought from 

 the swamp and, with a new supply of larvae, was placed in a 

 large battery jar. Soon the larvae disappeared, all of them hav- 

 ing worked their way in among the roots of the tussock. From 

 day to day this jar was watched but no pupae were observed 

 until on May 2oth two dead male adults still attached by their 

 feet to the pupal skins were on the water's surface. The sod 

 was now removed from the jar for examination and four living 

 and two dead larvae were taken from the vegetable mass ; also 

 two living and one dead pupa. The two living pupae were 

 transferred to clean water and unlike other Culcx pupae im- 

 mediately sank to the bottom and aside from an occasional flap 

 of the anal paddles showed no signs of life. At the bottom 

 they rested with the abdomen curved under the thorax, the 

 paddles closely appressed to the "face" (upon which it stood) 

 and were most generally tilted to one side, though occasion- 

 ally they assumed an erect position. For three days the pupae 

 remained in this death-like attitude and were then placed in al- 

 cohol, supposedly dead. 



In general build and appearance the pupa of C. perturbans 

 resembles the normal Culex type but a strikingly characteristic 

 feature is found in the long, slender air tubes which converge 

 apically and finally meet at a common apex. In color it is 

 light brownish with the head and thorax, except those portions 

 inclosing the metanotum and eyes, soiled whitish. The length 

 of the thorax is about 2.5 mm. and including the extended 

 abdomen, which is unusually long, about 7 mm. The air 

 tubes measure I mm. in length or slightly over, are strongly in- 



