MOSQUITO BIOLOGY 149 



Abdomen black on dorsum, with faint white lines separating seg- 

 ments, and pale yellow on venter. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



Though aurifer is by no means common anywhere, it is one of the 

 most bloodthirsty species we have. It has never been found far away 

 from its breeding places and does not enter houses, but does fly for some 

 distance at night, and is not so closely confined to the woods as cana- 

 densis. If its haunts are entered during the day it attacks fiercely and 

 fearlessly. 



The earliest date for adult aurifer is April 23, the latest for larvae is 

 May 10, from which the adult was bred May 13. Adults were taken as 

 late as July 24, yet bloodthirsty, and occurred in considerable swarms 

 during the last days of June. This would indicate an adult life period of 

 nearly three months, much longer than we have been inclined to credit 

 them with. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



When full grown, measures 7-9 mm. (.28— .36 inch) to end of ninth 

 segment. Specimens usually grayish or brownish black, though, rarely, 

 rusty almost brick colored. Head transversely elliptical, nearly as large 

 as thorax, broadest immediately behind eyes. Two tufts, situated close 

 together, each composed of two hairs, arise from each side of head 

 slightly lower than antennae ; one large tuft directly at base of each 

 antenna. Eyes moderate in size, antennae white, tipped with black, al- 

 most half as long as head is broad, thickest near base, tapering slightly 

 to about middle, then curved inwardly, becoming very narrow distally, 

 apex with three long spines, one short one, and little joint. Tuft con- 

 sists of from six to ten long hairs situated above middle, at obtuse angle 

 formed by curve. Surface of antennae set with small stout spines, con- 

 colorous with antenna. Rotary mouth brushes large and composed of 

 simple hairs. Mentum broadly triangular, with eleven or twelve teeth on 

 each side of apex. Mandible normal and best described by reference to 

 figure. Maxillary palpus clothed with soft, fine hair, arranged in 

 patches, has a large, long tuft at apex, little joint at its base, with 

 small articulated spines at blunt tip. 



Thorax transverse, edges of segments so marked as to form three 

 angles with tubercles from which arise tufts of long hair. Two smaller 

 tufts are on cephalic margin. 



Abdominal segments one to six, inclusive, have lateral tufts of long 

 hairs, while segments seven and eight have tufts much reduced in length. 



