82 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



and none with the characteristic inflated yet hollow abdomen of the fe- 

 male that has laid her eggs. 



The belief that this is a migratory form is based upon the facts that, 

 despite diligent collecting under varying conditions, a male was never 

 found and that they came in under the same conditions and with can- 

 tator and sollicitans. It is not suggested that perturbans comes from 

 the marshes ; simply that it does not breed on the place and comes in 

 from some outside point. 



It is one of the fiercest and hardest biters that we have. As one col- 

 lector says, "As against perturbans, undershirt, pants, and drawers 

 are no protection ; they will bite clean through all." Nor are they at all 

 timid or deliberate in the attack ; but rather at once dive for the nearest 

 point that offers a chance to make a puncture. They have no scruples 

 about entering houses. 



The species sings and where many of them are about, the air is filled 

 with an angry buzz that is quite unlike the preparatory note of any 

 other species known to me. 



As to the method of hibernation, nothing is known save that we have 

 never found it as an adult during the winter. 



Records indicate a single brood only, with a long life ; but the occur- 

 rence of a male in late July and of a female with developed ovaries a 

 little later, make this unquestionable. 



Fortunately the species is not of serious economic importance, though 

 it is locally common. 



Dr. Smith (25) records the discovery of the larva and its habits. He 

 is quoted in considerable detail because of the distinctive feeding habits 

 which distinguish Mansonia perturbans from other species. 



The breeding habits of Mansonia perturbans having been at last dis- 

 covered, a history of the search in New Jersey may be interesting. 



Our first knowledge of the species came from Mr. Brakeley, who, on 

 May 27, 1903, captured about twenty adults. No pains were spared in 

 collecting and noting the habits of the adults and in scouring the numer- 

 ous water areas at and near Lahaway in an effort to locate the early 

 stages. Fifty to 100 adults were easily taken in the course of a single 

 evening, but not a trace of the larva was discovered anywhere, though 

 the search had been thorough and persistently carried out. At the end 

 of the season's work Mr. Brakeley concluded that they must be mi- 

 grants from some other place, and this opinion was strengthened by the 

 fact that they appeared at the same time and apparently came in with 

 the salt marsh mosquitoes. 



On July 21 of the same year, several females and one male were taken 



