198 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



enough in the immediate vicinity of the pools, but none were seen only 

 a few feet away. 



The female has fully developed mouth structures and may bite, 

 though she is not aggressive. Reports are that the bite does not hurt 

 at all at the time, but that the swelling and the pain develop soon after- 

 ward. Indications are that they are not common anywhere. The species 

 winters, probably, in the egg stage, and does not become noticeable 

 until midsummer. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE LARVA 



Full grown, 8-9 mm., or about one-third inch in length, exclusive of 

 anal siphon, very stout, dirty pale yellow. Young and half grown 

 larvae more slender and whiter except for food matter in alimentary 

 canal, which is usually dark. Head rather long, tapering considerably 

 toward front, uniformly yellow, without maculation. In young larvae 

 dirty gray. In center of anterior part of vertex short hair tufts of four 

 or five hairs each ; another of same size at base of each antenna. Anten- 

 nae rather short, gently curved, dilated about one-third from base, 

 then tapering gradually toward apex ; black, basal third whitish, sur- 

 face with scattered stout spines. Tuft short, of about dozen hairs, 

 situated at center, slightly nearer base, directly above dilation. Apex 

 has three moderately long spines, shorter one and small joint. Rotary 

 mouth brush yellowish brown, composed entirely of simple hair. Mandi- 

 ble normal in shape, without row of long spines on margin between 

 apex and two curved, dorsal spines. Maxillary palpus short and broad, 

 almost circular, with moderate apical tuft and small basal joint. Men- 

 tum almost as high as broad at base, with only slightly curved sides of 

 from twelve to fourteen small teeth on each side of apex. 



Thorax almost circular, with smooth surface, except slight depres- 

 sions on anterior and posterior parts. Faint lateral angles each give 

 rise to number of short hair tufts ; several very small tufts on anterior 

 margin. 



Abdominal segments very broad in comparison to thorax, with two 

 hairs to each lateral tuft, in two anterior segments up to seven. Tufts 

 short in mature larva, but in young comparatively much longer and 

 abdomen narrower. Eighth segment has six scales on each side attached 

 to separate band, fringe-like, in form of semicircle. Individual scale 

 somewhat variable, but always has three large spines, longest form- 

 ing apex ; smaller spines border sides ; may be one, two, though pos- 

 sibly none, between larger ones. Anal siphon yellow, moderate in length, 

 usually stout and broadly dilated near base, though specimens occur 



