126 NOTES ON A BRUSH-TONGUED MOSQUITO 



The connecting membrane of the segments, as in the 

 case of the larva, is of a pale and flexible character. At 

 the end is the telson or summing appendage, composed 

 of two broad fans. These diverge from each other more 

 decidedly than they do in the pupa of other species with 

 which I am acquainted. A stout rib passes down the centre 

 of each leaf, and they are studded mth minute hairs. The 

 pupa stage continued for fifteen days ; the perfect insect 

 emerged on September 8th : the period from egglaying 

 to perfect insect, being six months. This is probably 

 much longer than it would have been in a natural state. 

 In artificial conditions, mosquitoes require a much longer 

 time to pass through their life changes than if they were 

 placed in natural conditions. But this is the only instance 

 where I have been able to breed from the egg to the perfect 

 insect. 



The adult insect is the largest and most handsome 

 of all the species. The body measures three-quarters of 

 an inch in length, and when the legs are extended from the 

 sides, they cover a space of an inch and a half. So that 

 it is a veritable giant in its tribe. 



Xot only is it distingiushed for size, but likewise for 

 beauty. The black eyes are bordered by silvery scales. 

 The proboscis, palpi, and antennae, have blue and gold 

 reflections. The pleura, or sides of the chest, are plated 

 with flat gold scales with a pale lustre. The legs are dark- 

 brown, ornamented with scattered scales of silver and 

 gold. While from the terminal segment of the body 

 extends a miniature peacock's tail, termed the caudal- 

 fan ; it is black \\'ith patches of gold. Thus, though our 

 prejudices are strongly against the order, yet we cannot 

 deny that this species possesses beauty. 



One thing that strikes us is the shape of the proboscis^ 

 In most mosquitoes this organ is straight or slightly curved- 

 This is an exception. The first half — a stout conical por- 

 tion — projects straight from the head, but at the middle^ 

 it bends abruptly downwards, tapering at the same time^ 

 like the lash of a whip. 



An engineer, or a mechanic, examining that instru- 

 ment would say that it was not meant for thrusting into 

 flesh. It would be absurd to make a bayonet for a soldier 

 with a curve in it like that. The hypodermic needle of 



