REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 267 



and set with spurs and spines, the inner claw is larger, with an 

 acute tooth at base and another near middle, the outer claw is 

 smaller and has only the median tooth. The claw joint of the 

 mid tarsi is- more normal in shape, yet a little excavated on the 

 inner side ; the claws are similar to those of the anterior tarsi, but 

 are smaller (fig. 81, 8). On the posterior tarsi the claw joint is 

 normal and the claws (fig. 81,9) are small, similar, with a median 

 tooth. In the female the tarsal claws are all alike (fig. 81, 6), 

 small, with a single tooth before the middle. 



The abdomen is black or blackish above, with narrow white 

 bands at base, the sides becoming more broadly white until, be- 

 neath, it is white with broad black bands. The amount of white 

 on the upper side is variable, but in fresh specimens the basal 

 bands are usually distinct. In the male the abdominal segments 

 are better defined, the white bands are more clearly marked, ex- 

 panding at the sides, and the surface is covered with fine, long, 

 divergent hair. 



The range of variation is small, there is a considerable differ- 

 ence in size as with others and some in the intensity of the body 

 color. The apparent variation in the distinctness of the white 

 abdominal bands is usually due to the age of the specimen, all 

 fresh examples showing clear contrasts. 



Description of tJic Lanm. 



The larva and its parts are illustrated on plate 82, and the ref- 

 erences are to the figures on that plate. The full-grown wrig- 

 gler (fig. i) measures from 7-8 mm.,=.28-.32 inch, exclud- 

 ing the anal siphon ; is rather stout in build, very active and 

 usually dirty slate gray in color, except the head, which is usually 

 black. There is little variation in the color of the mature larva, 

 but in the earlier stages it is lighter and the head seems darker in 

 contrast. Up to the time when it is two-thirds grown, there is 

 usually a pale band or neck which gives rather a characteristic ap- 

 pearance, and usually identifies the larva. The head is one and 

 one-half times as wide as long and varies in color from yellowish 

 to a deep blackish brown. In the small larvae the head is black 

 or nearly so, except after a recent moult, when it is yellow or whit- 

 ish and proportionatelv much larger; sometimes this pale color 

 persists and detracts so much from the usual appearance that it 

 gives the impression of a different species. The maculation on 

 tlie vertex which is shown in the figure is very constant and does 

 not vary from the definite pattern shown. The marks and dots 



