MOSQUITO BIOLOGY 61 



Culex salinarius Coquillet 

 The Unhanded Salt Marsh Mosquito 



DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERIZATION 



[United States, east of Great Plains. Trapped 1,850 females in New 

 Jersey.] 



This species so like C. pipiens, ordinary house or rain barrel mos- 

 quito, that description of latter (found on page 64) will apply to this 

 species also. In all structural details save tip of female palpi, drawings 

 for the one will answer for other. C. salinarius, however, is somewhat 

 slighter, giving legs appearance of unusual length. In female white 

 bands of abdomen narrower and better defined ; as a whole, mosquito 

 seems blacker. In long series of adults from various localities lanky 

 and generally darker appearance would form best characters for sepa- 

 ration. Specimens a little rubbed or in alcohol, indistinguishable. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



This is the only one of the salt marsh mosquitoes that hibernates in 

 the adult stage and that does not migrate for any considerable distance. 

 It seems much more abundant on the Newark and Elizabeth marshes 

 than it does further south, and at Cape May it was not found until well 

 along in the season. It is a night flier and, on the marshes where sol- 

 licitans and cantator rise up to greet the visitor by day, salinarius will 

 not be seen at all. But in the early evening it flies readily and is as 

 greedy for blood as any other of the species. It sings like pipiens and 

 has the same tendency to get into houses, though perhaps not so well 

 marked. Hibernating specimens have been found in buildings along the 

 edge of the marshes, and it is quite possible that the insects come up 

 into the edge of the cities even though they fly no further inland. They 

 remain in hibernation until April and continue breeding until October. 



Mr. Viereck observed their marriage flight at Cape May on two occa- 

 sions, just at nightfall. An egg boat is formed as in case of pipiens and 

 territans, but the aggregation of eggs is smaller in number. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



When full grown, 6-7 mm. (.24-.28 inch) long, exclusive of anal 

 siphon. When young, wrigglers whitish with tinge of yellow or brown, 

 head and thorax very large in comparison with abdomen. Large larvae 

 translucent, pale yellow or brownish with regions of body propor- 

 tionate. Head subquadrate, broadest through eyes, about one and one- 



