88 THE COM.MOX MOSOriTOES OF MINNESOTA 



Mansonia perturbans Walk — The Irritating Mosquito, 



This niostiuitd is rather alj()\'e mechuni size and of a i^eneral 

 brownish color. Several prominent characteristics help to recog- 

 nize it at once. The wings are heavily scaled with large o\al scales 

 (jf both a whitish and ])lackish color, gixing them a mottled appear- 

 ance. The beak is broadl}- l)anded with white at the middle and 

 the tarsal segments I)ear l)road white bands at their bases, as well 

 as a white band at the middle of the hrst segment of the tarsi of 

 the hrst pair of legs. The til)iae of all three jKiirs of legs also have 

 a white band at the distal third of their length. The segments of 

 the al)d()men are \er}' narrowlv banded with white at their bases. 



It is crepuscular in habits, but will attack during the daytime 

 in shady woods. The popular name indicates the annovance it 

 causes to man. AppareiUly it has a wide distribution o\-er the 

 state. There is only one brood each year, adults appearing in June 

 and ccMitinuing throughout the summer. The winter is passed in 

 the lar\al stage, even if the water freezes solid. Eggs are laid on 

 the surface of the water in rafts reseml)ling those of Ciilex pipieiis. 

 It breeds mostly in swamps. 



For a long time the lar\a of this moscpiito was unknown, ])Ut 

 recently it was found that it attached itself to the roots of aquatic 

 plants, obtaining its oxygen b\- thrusting the breathing tube into the 

 tissues of these roots. 



The larva is short and thick-set. antennae very long; the tuft 

 of hairs at the basal third of the length. The breathing tube is short 

 and is sharph' pointed for piercing plant tissues. ( )n the eighth 

 abdominal segment is a single row of long, slender, pointed scales, 

 each with a fringe of small hairs on the sides. 



We have taken the adult at the LTii\'ersity h'arm. June 23 and 

 20, 1916, and near Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis. Jul}- 15, 1916. In 

 the collection of the De])artment are specimens labeled Cray Cloud 

 Island, July 1, 1S<J6, and C.rand Rapids, August, 18%. 



Culex tarsalis Coq. 



This is a small, daik moscitiito, sonu'\\h;it similar m ai)pearance 

 to Aedcs canadensis, like that species ha\ing the basal and terminal 

 white l)and on the tarsal segments. They can be sei)arated, how- 

 ever, bv the fact that Cnlex tarsalis has a white band on the beak, 

 a little before the middle of its length. The abdominal whitish 

 bands ex])and laterally into broad white jiatches. The femora and 

 tibiae are narrowly lined on each side with white and the tips are 



