122 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



In male claw-joint of anterior tarsi excavated inwardly, with one 

 long claw and a shorter one, each with median tooth, nearer base. 

 Middle claw- joint short, not excavated, with a very long and a short 

 claw, each with single tooth near base. Claws of posterior tarsi small, 

 of equal length and each with a single claw. Claws of female alike on all 

 feet, somewhat longer than those on male posterior feet ; one tooth on 

 each. 



Abdomen blackish brown, broadly banded at base of segments with 

 creamy white, which sometimes encroaches a trifle on apex of anterior 

 segment. Bands become broader toward sides, more so posteriorly, 

 until they connect at sides, and apical segments often wholly white. 

 Bands very broad in male so abdomen appears white, banded with 

 black. Under side of both sexes is dirty white. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



Little known are the habits of this species in the adult stage. It is 

 as early on the wing as canadensis, occurs in the same places, bites just 

 as hard, its life is shorter, and it seems not to range far from the place 

 of its birth. Pain from bite is slight as compared with that of cantator, 

 which it resembles so closely that the two have been supposed to be the 

 same species. There seems to be only one brood. 



[In northeastern United States and Canada, however, it is one of the 

 most abundant and annoying woodland species. It breeds in woodland 

 pools, flood pools of rivers and in swamps and marshes. It winters in the 

 egg stage. Eggs hatch with the melting of ice and snow in woodland 

 pools and adults appear in late April, May, or June. Adults are long 

 lived, lasting until late July and August. It has a flight range of per- 

 haps two miles.] 



DESCEIPTION OF THE LARVA 



Larva when full grown from 9-10 mm. (.36-.40 inch) long, exclud- 

 ing anal siphon, of rather stout build and usually dirty slate gray ex- 

 cept head, which is yellowish brown. Head one and one-half times as 

 broad as long and immaculate except for faint cloud usually present 

 on vertex. From center of head arise two small hair tufts of two hairs 

 each and a single, short hair in advance of each ; another tuft of five or 

 six hairs is at base of each antenna. Antennae yellowish at base, be- 

 coming dark brown toward tip ; rather short, with slight curve, swollen 

 for one-fourth its length from base, then evenly tapered to apex ; apex 

 with four spines, a long and a short slender one, two short stout ones, 

 and a little short articulated joint. Tuft situated on shaft slightly be- 



