REPORT ON MOSQUITOES. 343 



reflections. Tlie claws of the anterior tarsal joint in the male 

 (figf. 108, 4) are equal and simple, those of the mid tarsal joint 

 (fig 108, 5) are unequal, the larger very long and curved, the 

 smaller about one-fourth its length, straight and very acute; 

 the posterior claws (fig. 108, 6) are like the anterior, but 

 smaller. The female claws are the same as in the male except 

 that the mid claws are like the anterior ones. 



The abdomen is swollen posteriorly, brownish black on the 

 dorsal surface, with metallic bronze reflections. The venter is 

 yellowish, densely covered with silvery white scales which join 

 the brown in a well defined line at the sides ; sometimes the white 

 extends very slightly up the base of the segments, but is never 

 visible from above. 



Habits of the Adult. 



The most characteristic habit of the adult is its inability or 

 disinclination to bite and suck blood — of human beings at least. 

 Mr. Brakeley has been in the bogs and swamps where there must 

 have been hundreds of them and never a one has come to disturb 

 him. He has even seen them about, among the pitcher plants, 

 apparently engaged in ovipositing, and they paid not the slight- 

 est attention to him. 



Since the spring of 1901 hundreds of specimens have been 

 annually bred in my laboratory and often examples escape. On 

 one solitary occasion a specimen lit upon my hand resting on the 

 back of a chair, and I kept very quiet for several minutes watch- 

 ing it. It moved about a little, touched the surface with its beak 

 several times with a sort of jabbing motion ; but made no real 

 attempt to puncture. It tried to assume the resting position but 

 seemed to be annoyed by the hair on the hand and after shifting 

 about for a little flew away to seek more satisfactory quarters. 

 It is the first and only time that a New Jersey mosquito of any 

 kind declined the opportunity to feast upon me ! 



The resting position, by the bye, is peculiar ; the head points 

 downward at an angle to between the front legs and the hind 

 legs are curled over so far as to give the insect the appearance of 

 attempting a somersault and being caught midway in the attempt. 



The adults do not make their appearance under natural con- 

 ditions until the end of May, and issue irregularly until the end 

 of October or even early November. 



They are found throughout the southern part of the State 

 wherever the pitcher plant grows ; but the larvae do not seem to 

 inhabit pitcher plants in the Passiac swamps so generally. We 



