MOSQUITO BIOLOGY 189 



succeeding ones. Sixth segment sometimes has small, dark brown chi- 

 tinized plate on dorsal surface ; on seventh, similar plate covers entire 

 surface, except slight anterior and posterior margin, and extends 

 down sides below middle. On eighth segment plate narrowed, corre- 

 sponding to smaller dorsal surface, and extends lower down sides than 

 preceding one. Lateral combs at posterior margin of plate, but not 

 joined to it. They consist each of two rows of scales: first with from 

 fifteen to twenty-one greatly elongated ones, fringed laterally at basal 

 half with fine hair, longest scales toward venter ; second w^ith six or 

 seven scales, their apices extending between those of anterior row. 

 Individual scales of this row much longer than any of those of first, 

 constricted at about one-third from base; sides fringed as in others. 

 Small lateral plate between combs and posterior margin of segment. 

 Anal siphon about three times as long as wide, almost black, evenly 

 tapered toward apex. Without lateral rows of spines, but has hair 

 tuft at about middle. Ninth segment small, with oblique posterior 

 margin ; double dorsal tuft and ventral brush normal, latter confined 

 to barred area. Anal gills short, about three times as long as broad. 



HABITS OF THE EARLY STAGES 



Nothing is known of the egg laying habits of this species, but the 

 indications are that oviposition is on the surface or at the edges near 

 the surface. The larva is so characteristic and so unlike the other 

 species of Culex that there should be no difficulty in recognizing it. 

 One collector writes : "OrtJiopodomyia sigjiifera made its appearance 

 in small numbers among Culex pungens in much larger numbers. This 

 occurred in a tub of rather foul water under an apple tree in a chicken 

 yard. There were three developments of this species, all in the same 

 place, although there were over twenty other tubs of water nearby." 

 The occurrence with pungens in a tub indicates a surface oviposition. 

 Although I have had pails with water of almost all degrees of foulness 

 exposed in my back yard, I never found even a single representation 

 of this species. 



Another collector found them near Chester in a tree hollow on 

 September 5, in company with triseriatus, and again on October 3. 

 They were fully mature in both cases, and of the September lot some 

 were already in the pupal stage, most of the adults appearing within 

 a week. The water in which these larvae were found was not notably 

 foul. It may be that these pools in decaying trees are the most usual 

 breeding places and that the eggs are laid something like those of 

 triseriatus. At all events several broods are indicated. 



