REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 307 



The thorax is brown, with many golden brown scales scattered 

 over the surface. When partially denuded it is seen to be ridged . 

 and this gives the impression of dusky longitudinal lines. 



The femora are brown, becoming darker distally until, at the 

 apex, there is a distinct white spot ; beneath they are pale yellow. 

 The tibiae are dark brown, paler beneath, with an ochraceous 

 spot at the extreme apex. The tarsi are blackish brown their 

 entire length. The claws of the anterior (figs. 95, 3) and mid 

 (fig. 95, 4) tarsal joints of the male are one toothed, the long: 

 claw with a median tooth, the shorter one with a basal tooth.. 

 The posterior claws of the male (fig. 95, 5) and all those of the 

 female are simple, of equal length and somewhat sharply curved. 



The abdomen is blackish brown, with yellowish, moderate or 

 narrow bands at the base of the segments. In the female the 

 bands, especially in the anterior segments, become narrower 

 laterally and are well defined, w'hile in the male they become very 

 wide close to the lateral borders and the apical segment is often 

 wholly 3^ellowish. They are not so well defined in the male as 

 in the female. Beneath the abdomen is yellowish brown. 



The range of variation in size is considerable and that in color 

 is verv decided. In the pines of South Jersey the specimens are 

 often almost rusty red and so large that I at first suspected a 

 different species. Late in the season a small, almost blackish 

 form makes its appearance at New Brunswick; but it is equally 

 as vicious as the larger forms. As a whole this mosquito is best 

 distinguished by having* no peculiar characters. It is just the- 

 common every day brown mosquito that gets into our rooms 

 and bothers us at night. If it has any peculiarity at all it is that it 

 usually has a lean and hungry appearance. 



Habits of the Adult. 



The term "house mosquito" is expressivt of the most objec- 

 tionable habit of the species — its persistent effort to get in- 

 doors. Other species of Cttlcx will get into houses through open: 

 doors or windows, or on the clothing of persons coming in ; Ixit 

 pipiens actually works its way in through crevices, behind! 

 windows and even through screens. It comes indoors because 

 it wants to and not necessarily in search of food. It should be- 

 explained that this is the species for which the term pun gens is 

 emploved in some earlier wa'itings. Recent study has developed 

 the fact that our species is identical with the common European^ 

 species and the older name takes priority. Dr. Howard has. 

 indeed, sugp^ested tliat this may be an importation from some 



