)32 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



had two of Mr. Merrick's trap lanterns running nightly, and among 

 hundreds of specimens have found neither iucaia nor salienta. Walker's 

 type of compiaria came from Nova Scotia, and I do not believe that 

 saliejita is found there. If, only one hundred miles above New York 

 City, which I consider about its northern range, I am unable to find it, 

 then it is unlikely that it ranges coastwise so far above this latitude, into 

 a region so boreal. Yet if I am wrong T will be glad to receive speci- 

 mens taken there in proof of it. Meanwhile I cannot accept the outcome 

 of Mr. Taylor's revision, and contend that cotnptaria is still comptaria. 



NOTES ON THE LARVA OF THE PTrCHER- PLANT 



MOSQUITO. 



BY EVELYN GROESBEECK MITCHELL, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Since the discovery of IVyeomyia Sviithii in the leaves of Pitcher, 

 plants in New Jersey, by Dr. J. B. Smith, it has been reported from 

 Massachusetts and Florida. 



On June i6th of the present year, the writer found a larva of the 

 second stage in a Pitcher-plant in a greenhouse in the Botanical Gardens, 

 Washington, D. C. July 8th, three more specimens were taken there 

 The plants had been brought from South Carolina, and had been in the 

 greenhouse for several years. As there are now no wild Pitcher-plants in 

 the District, the mosquitoes were probably imported in an early stage with 

 the plants. 



The larva of this species has hitherto been described as having but 

 two anal gills. Examination of the living specimens revealed two more, 

 making up the normal number of four These two gills are small, being 



only about one-third as long as 

 V ^^''/7 ''^6 two large inflated ones, 



~^ — ■~^>^^ tracheated, pointed and situ- 



^^^:^=\ ated dorsad of the larger pair. 

 :;^^^^/ (See fig. i8.) In alcoholic 

 ^r=^^>^^ specimens they are difficult to 



^i^-'^^^X detect, as they shrink between 



_ x^_ ^ the larger two, and it is neces- 



sary to remove one of the latter 

 to see the small gills plainly. 

 The larva, during the three days before pupation, comes frequently to 

 the surface, before that time remaining mostly at the bottom. The favour- 

 ite feeding posture seems to be with back downward, lying on the bottom 

 of the jar. 



September, 1905. 



meson 



Fig. 18. 



