140 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



black, with deep blue sheen, under sides of tibiae yellowish, on femora 

 creamy white. Claws of male anterior and middle tarsal joints unequal 

 in length, larger with median and basal tooth, smaller with single tooth 

 near base. On posterior tarsal joint claws equal, each with single tooth 

 short distance from base. In female claws alike on all feet, equal in size 

 and, like posterior ones of male, have single tooth near base. 



Abdomen black above, with purplish reflections, pale yellow beneath, 

 segments marked with lateral white spots extending upon dorsal surface 

 at front angles of apical segments. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



This is distinctly a handsome species, readily recognized by the 

 broad silvery stripe on the back. It was originally described from South 

 America, but occurs throughout New Jersey, though nowhere in large 

 numbers. Little is positively known of the habits of the adults, and that 

 little is not especially to its discredit. It bites, of course, when its haunts 

 are invaded, but it lives in low swampy woods where rubber boots are 

 desirable' at most periods and where few persons ever go. There is abso- 

 lutely no record of its capture in towns or houses, hence it cannot be 

 included among the pestiferous forms. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



Very robust, when full grown 6-7 mm. (.24-28 inch) long, excluding 

 anal siphon. Head dark brown, with darker diffused blotches on vertex, 

 widest at eyes, tapering anteriorly and somewhat flattened in front. 

 Four hairs on anterior part of vertex, each arising from separate pits, 

 one pair in advance of other ; tuft of five or six hairs at base of each 

 antenna. Antennae short, not quite half length of head, thickest at basal 

 third and terminated by one long spine, three smaller ones and small 

 joint. Hair tuft of moderate length issues from shaft at about middle, 

 surface set with small, stout spines. Rotary mouth brushes have simple 

 and pectinated hairs, pectinated ones short and curved in more central 

 part and obscured by long simple ones. Mentum triangular, with fifteen 

 or sixteen small teeth on each side of apex. Mandible normal ; maxillary 

 palpus short and broad, with moderate apical hair tuft and rather 

 large chunky, basal joint. Patches of hair, some feathered, on surface 

 of palpus. 



Thorax angular, wider than long, with moderate hair tufts at each of 

 lateral angles and two smaller tufts on anterior margin. White, with 

 median black portion becoming wide anteriorly. 



Abdominal segments one to six almost black, anterior two with lateral 



