MOSQUITO BIOLOGY 107 



narrowly ringed with white at base of joints except fifth one in anterior 

 feet ; posterior tarsi with broad basal bands of pure white. Claws of 

 anterior tarsal joint in male very stout, unequal in size and each with 

 large median tooth ; those of middle tarsal joint unequal, the larger long 

 and slender with long blunt tooth one-third its length from the base, 

 the smaller with a median tooth near the base. Posterior claws equal, 

 each with median tooth nearer base. In female claws equal and slender 

 on all feet, with single long tooth near base of each. 



Abdomen blackish brown with pale yellowish bands at base of seg- 

 ments ; extremely narrow apical ones at base of posterior three seg- 

 ments, irregularly merging into brown, becoming diffused at sides until, 

 beneath, scales are mixed together indiscriminately, white ones pre- 

 dominating. Bands of male very wide, mixed with brown scales and tend 

 to cover entire posterior segments. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



Nothing is known of the habits of this species in the adult stage. 

 We know, of course, that it is a woods mosquito, and it probably stays 

 there. We know also that it is an early species and the probabilities are 

 that there is only one brood. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



Measures 9-11 mm. (.36— .44 inch) in length, exclusive of the anal 

 siphon when full grown ; not robust. Body light gray or yellowish brown 

 in color with thorax somewhat darker. Head about one and one-half 

 times as broad as long, yellowish to light brown, though vertex often 

 dark so as to give appearance of dark brown head. Posterior part of 

 vertex has maculation of four spots and semicircular blotch often ob- 

 scured. Four tufts of two hairs each situated on top of head in anterior 

 part and larger tuft at base of each antenna. Antennae moderately 

 long, somewhat sharply curved, surface sparingly set with spines, 

 rather thickly at base ; three or four regular rows of minute spines run 

 from base toward apex on inner side. Tuft is well below middle and con- 

 sists of but two or three hairs. Antennae brown, very dark toward tip, 

 apex with three spines of different lengths, a very short spine and a 

 small joint. Eyes large, black; rotary mouth brushes pectinated in 

 central hairs. Mentum has slightly curved edges of eleven or twelve 

 teeth on each side of apical one, and becomes very broad at base. Man- 

 dible normal, with group of small spines at base. Maxillary palpus set 

 with spines and patches of hair over surface and has a chunky little 

 joint at its base. 



