THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 2()5 



foLirlh vein reaches wing margin; a slight cmargination of costa at 

 end of first vein. 



Type: Acuciila saltans, n. sp. 



Aciicula saltans, n. sp. 



Length of body of male, 5 mm.; bod\- of female to end of ex- 

 tended ovipositor (axis of abdomen and ovipositor flexed to axis of 

 thorax), 7 mm.; ovipositor, 3 mm.; wing, 4 to 4.5 mm.. Two males 

 and one female reared from maggots found in cactus bloom at 

 Santa Ana, Rio Rimac Valley, Peru, about 4,000 ft. 



Wholly bluish-greenish black, polished, metallic ; eyes, face 

 and antennae brown; face slightly cinerous in oblique lights; legs 

 brown, tibiae tawny or obscure yellowish. Wjngs clear, tawny 

 whitish at base. * 



The eggs are evidently deposited within the cactus bud at a 

 certain stage, of development of the latter, the elongated needle-like 

 ovipositor being used for piercing the wall of the bud. The mag- 

 gots evidently feed on the fermenting juices of the flower mass, 

 whose development is arrested by their presence. 



This fly appears to be intermediate between the Milichiidce 

 and the Sepsidce, partaking largely of the characters of both. The 

 head, abdomen, wings, legs and vibrissa; are more like Milichia; 

 while the frontal characters and larval habits are more like Sepsis. 

 The larval saltatory habit finds its only known counterpart in 

 PiophUa. The fly is probably to be considered an aberrant member 

 of the Sepsidce, certainU^ so if the saltatory habit signifies anything. 



OVIPOSITION HABITS OF CULEX ABOMINATOR DYAR 



AND KNAB. 



BY B. R. COAD, WASHINGTON, D.C. 



To the best of the writer's knowledge, the oviposition habits 

 of Ciilex ahominator have not been published, and, as they are 

 unique for a species of Culex, they are perhaps worthy of note. 



The larvae of this species are indigenous to the beds of aquatic 

 vegetation which frequently form in the rivers and lakes of the 

 north-central states. These Ijcds are composed of Ceratophyllum, 

 Potamogeton, Lemna and similar aquatic plants. This growth 

 is more or less impervious to fish, but provides sufficient open water 

 surface to allow the breeding of great numbers of mosquitoes. 



August, 1913 



