208 THE MOSQUITOES OF NEW JERSEY 



DESCRIPTION OF THE ADULT 



Measures 5-6 mm. (.20-.24 inch) in length, exclusive of beak, which 

 is about half length of body. Occiput densely covered with yellowish 

 brown scales ; proboscis black, without bands ; palpi in female purplish 

 black, rather slender, four- jointed, terminal joint minute and circular. 

 In male palpi very long, three- jointed, longer than proboscis by two 

 terminal joints; evenly dilated from tip of basal joint to apex; pur- 

 plish, with white band in middle of basal joint, nearer base; apical two 

 joints set with rather short hairs. Antennae dark brown in both sexes, 

 basal joint of female yellowish. 



Thorax brownish black, profusely sprinkled with creamy yellow 

 scales, pleura dark brown with large irregular patch of grayish white 

 scales. Femora largely yellowish, black toward apices on upper side, 

 with white dot at knee. Tibiae and tarsal joints black with purple 

 sheen, those of hind legs densely scaled, tibiae swollen at apex ; whole of 

 last two tarsal joints and apex of middle joint white. Claws of male 

 anterior and middle tarsal joints unequal, larger with curved, blunt 

 median tooth and acute basal tooth, smaller with single tooth near base, 

 posterior claws equal, each with single median tooth. Female claws equal 

 on all feet, anterior and middle ones slightly sinuous, with median tooth 

 nearer base, posterior like those of male. 



Abdomen deep metallic purple above, yellowish beneath, yellow ex- 

 tending up sides at apex of segments, showing slightly on dorsal surface 

 at apical angles in last two or three segments. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT 



A collector describes the adult female as follows (the experience took 

 place on the Great Piece Meadow about the middle of August) : 



"The persistence of this mosquito is almost incredible. When one in- 

 vades it haunts, at first not a specimen may be seen ; but in a few min- 

 utes it seems as though every individual in the locality has concentrated 

 on one's person. Brushing them away is a mere waste of time for they 

 return to the attack with double fury, and their bite is very painful. So 

 eager are they to insert their lancets that they can be very readily taken 

 with vials, and in one hour I took 100 specimens in this way. Working 

 pools for larvae, with both hands occupied, in a locality where they are 

 present, is most unbearable, for with the hands wet their reluctance to 

 leave is still greater and they may be crushed by simply laying the fin- 

 ger upon them. At one time a mosquito rested upon the back of my hand 

 and before she got a hold I disturbed her by sliding my finger towards 



