REPORT OX MOSQUITOES. 309 



place during flight in the early evening soon after the females 

 have emerged. The eggs develop rapidly and in a very few days 

 after assuming the adult form this summer mosquito is ready to 

 oviposit. 



This Citle.v pipiais is not a migratory form and flies no further 

 than is necessary to secure food and a suitable place to lay eggs. 

 As to the food, that matter has been discussed; for this species 

 blood food is not necessary to enable it to mature ova. If the 

 insect travels at all it is in search of a place to oviposit and there 

 is no especial reason why it should not cover considerable' terri- 

 tory in doing this. As a rule, where conditions favor its con- 

 tinued breeding the adults do not get far from the place where 

 they matured. 



As to the bite of this species it is not as painful as that of 

 sol licit mis or cantator; but it is apt to be more lasting. It feels 

 somewhat as if the lancets were finer and more penetrating. 

 Pipiens has the singing habit in an aggravated form and will 

 hover a long time before deciding upon a satisfactory place to 

 settle. This singing is actually more annoying to many people 

 than the bite itself, and the sound when it begins just as sleep 

 approaches, compels attention and effectually awakens the victim. 



The number of broods is indefinite, and depends altogether 

 upon breeding possibilities. In my pails I have at almost all 

 times all stages from tgg to pupa and the same condition o£ 

 affairs may usually be found in any of the more permanent pools. 

 In a rain-water puddle matters are different and all the larvae will 

 be of about one size. 



The species occurs throughout the State, more or less abund- 

 antly as opportunities for breeding present themselves. Some 

 localities that are usually quite free may, after a week or two of 

 shower}- weather, become seriouslv infested. 



Next to the salt marsh species this is the most offensive and 

 troublesome mosquito in the State and. indeed in many parts of 

 the State it is the only troublesome species. Hence it has been 

 studied more fully and is here dealt with in greater detail than 

 most other species. 



Description of the Larva. 



The larva is shown on figure 96a with details of structure 

 greatly enlarged. \A'hen full grown it is 7-8 mm., = 

 .28-.32 of an inch in length exclusive of the anal siphon. 

 It is very transparent, pale yellowish in color and usually 

 attains a faint shade of the color of the food eaten. 

 Newly hatched and medium sized larvae are almost white 



