REPORT ON MOSQUITOE^S. 28 



few small spines on the dorsal part of the base. The maxillary 

 palpus is short and broad, with a rather large apical tuft and 

 large, stout, basal joint. The mentum (fig-. 88, 6) is triangular 

 in form, with thirteen to sixteen small teeth of uniform size 

 on each side of the apex. 



The thorax is one and one-half times the width of the head, 

 the sides angulated, each angle with moderate cream colored 

 tufts, and two- small, two-haired tufts on the anterior margin. 



The abdominal segments i to 7 are subquadrate in form, with 

 two hairs tO' each lateral tuft. The eighth segment has lateral 

 combs of scales arranged in single regular curved rows, as shown 

 in figure 88, 7. Each row consists of seven to twelve elongated 

 scales, very acute at the apex and fringed at the sides with short, 

 fine hairs (fig. 88, 8). The anal siphon in length is four and one- 

 half times its width at the base and tapers rather evenly toward 

 the tip. It is a very inconspicuous affair and readily overlooked 

 in the living larva. The lateral rows of spines consist each of 

 from nine to thirteen in number and extend one-third the length 

 of the siphon from the base. The individual spines are slightly 

 curved, their apices drawn to a long, slender point, the base 

 rather broad with three or four teeth (fig. 88, 9). The ninth 

 segment is almost square, completely ringed by the chitinized 

 saddle; the ventral brush is rather large, composed of ten or 

 twelve tufts of hair, which are confined tO' the barred area; the 

 double dorsal tuft small, each tuft with one long hair. The anal 

 gills are very long and slender, pointed at the apex, the lateral 

 margins scalloped, the tracheal tubes plainly visible through 

 them. 



Habits of the Early Stages. 



The species was first found in the larval stage by Clarence Van 

 Duersen in a woodland pool near New Brunswick, July 29th, 

 1903. Several other species were associated with it. but this 

 larva was at once recognized as distinct by its unusually long 

 anal gills, the very small breathing tube and by its habit of re- 

 maining close to the bottom — a very unusual one for a mosquito 

 larva. While in confinement the wrigglers never rose volunta- 

 rily to the surface, and when disturbed sailed rather than wrig- 

 gled upward, descending immediately when quiet was restored. 

 So inconspicuous and transparent are they, that a jar containing 

 them would be set aside as empty unless critically examined, and 

 this, together with their habit of hiding among leaves at the bot- 

 tom of pools, renders them difficult to secure. 



