38 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



on the northen marshes I do not know, nor what prevents their develop- 

 ment along the southern shore. 



Cantator enters houses freely where they are open ; but is easily kept 

 out by ordinary screening. It does not seek opportunities, but when at- 

 tracted by light or the human odor it will come indoors much more 

 readily than sollicitans. Among the indoor captures, this species is well 

 represented throughout the season, scarcely yielding at times to pipiens. 

 It comes to porches readily enough and does not hesitate about getting 

 into the breeziest corners. 



As a biter, cantator stands in the front rank, and it is persistent in 

 its attack. It does no unnecessary singing, but proceeds to business at 

 once, and while its bite is not so "hot" as that of sollicitans, it is really 

 more painful and more lasting in its effects. 



This species flies during the day and bites when opportunity oifers ; 

 but it is not so active as sollicitans in this respect and rises only when 

 disturbed. It is essentially an evening mosquito. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



When full grown 7-9 mm., (.28— .36 inch) long, excluding anal 

 siphon ; yellowish gray ; young larvae almost white, darker when larger. 

 Head broader than long, lighter than rest of body; maculation on 

 vertex very constant, never diverging from type shown, each mark 

 has well defined edges. Rarely diffused blotch near front, on top of head, 

 which sometimes clouds whole head, partly obscuring maculation, giv- 

 ing darker or black appearance. Four tufts, each of three or four hairs, 

 one pair a little in front of other, larger tuft at base of each antenna. 

 Antenna short, single curve, dark brown, paler at base, sparsely set 

 with short, stout spines. Tuft on shaft, little below middle composed of 

 eight or ten hairs. At apex long and short spine, two bristles and small 

 joint articulated to main segment. Eyes best seen from side, large, 

 crescent-shaped, widest below, acute at vertex. Two sets of hairs com- 

 pose rotary mouth brushes, very heavily pectinated set situated in 

 center and simple set laterad. Mentum triangular, nine or ten teeth on 

 each side of apex, sides well rounded, base flat. Rarely, sides in some 

 specimens only slightly curved. Mandible normal, with few very small 

 spines on dorsal surface of base. Maxillary palpus has large tuft of 

 moderately long hairs. Thorax rounded, scarcely any angulations in 

 full grown larva ; in immature larva more transverse, distinctly angu- 

 lated. Lateral hairs issue from number of tubercles at six points, two 

 tufts small fine hairs at anterior margin. Abdominal segments one to 

 seven oblong or subquadrate, each has tuft of lateral hairs, becoming 



