18 INSECUTOR INSCITI^ MKNSTRUUS 



Aedes varipalpus Coquillett. 



This species breeds in water in holes in trees. It is spread 

 throughout California, both along the coast and in the Sierras, 

 extending up to Washington and British Columbia and into the 

 Kootenai region — wherever there are trees to hold water. Oaks 

 are the most useful trees in this respect though probably alders, 

 willows, and sycamores will serve also. The conifers do not 

 hold water. The species was abundant in Yosemite Valley in 

 May, more abundant than I have ever seen it before. 



Specimens before me from the Sierras, referable to varipal- 

 pus, have been taken as follows : El Portal, California, May 

 12, 1916 (H. G. Dyar) ; Yosemite, California, May 13 to 18, 

 1916 (H. G. Dyar) ; Tahoe Tavern, Lake Tahoe, California, 

 August 15, 1915 (H. G. Dyar) ; Homewood, Lake Tahoe, Cali- 

 fornia, August 29, 1915 (H. G. Dyar) ; Glenbrook, Nevada, 

 August 35, 1915 (H. G. Dyar). 



Aedes ventrovittis Dyar. 



This species is very early, being the first of the snow-pool 

 species on the wing. At Fallen Leaf, in 1916, which was a very 

 late season, a specimen was taken on June 2. Two others were 

 obtained June 15, after which nothing more was seen of the 

 species. I arrived at Gold Lake July 19, but saw nothing of 

 ventrovittis at that time. Prof. W. B. Herms, however, who 

 preceded me at Gold Lake, took several specimens of this spe- 

 cies on July 4, it being the only mosquito flying. Gold Lake is 

 about 500 feet higher than Fallen Leaf and about 75 miles 

 farther north ; the season is consequently some three weeks 

 later. 



The adults resemble hexodontus in coloration, having golden 

 yellow scaled mesonotum, but are much smaller. Also the pres- 

 ence of white scales on the wings and the ventral abdominal 

 stripe distinguish them. The males and larvse are unknown. It 

 will require very early collecting to obtain the life history, 

 and this presents some practical difficulty, as none of the moun- 

 tain camps are open early enough for this work. They are 

 generally piled up with snow banks and uninhabitable. 



