The Mosquitoes of New Jersey 



51 



The striped kilHfish {Fundulus majalis Walbaum), which may be 

 distinguished by the markings shown in figure 20, reaches a length 

 of 6 to 8 inches. It occurs throughout the Jersey coast. It enters 

 with the tide and goes out with it. It is useful, but less valua- 

 ble than the following species for the purpose of mosquito control. 



The common killifish, otherwise known as the "mud-fish," "mud- 

 dabbler," "mummichog," and "salt-water minnow" {Fundulus het- 

 oroclitus macrolcpidatiis Walbaum), is perhaps more effective than 

 any other fish as a salt-marsh mosquito larvae destroyer. The 



Fig. 21. The Common Killifish, male. (From Jordan and Evermann, U. S. 



Nat. Mus., Bui. 47). 



females are nearly uniformly olivaceous but lighter below. The 

 males are dark greenish, with many narrow, irregular, silvery bars 

 on the sides, and the belly is yellowish or orange. The sides are 

 more or less spotted with white or yellow. This species reaches a 

 length of 4^ inches and occurs throughout the New Jersey salt 

 marsh. Mr. Seal has the following to say about it : "This species 

 is abundant everywhere to the extreme limits of tide water. They 

 are equally at home in salt or fresh water, the clearest water or the 

 muddiest pool or ditch. They are not even averse to filthy sewage 

 water, collecting in vast numbers at the mouths of sewers at low 

 tide. They will be found in the most insignificant and shallowest 

 depressions on the flats or marshes, in ditches filled with reeds, 

 spatterdocks or masses of submerged plants, and in muddy holes 

 devoid of plants or other shelter. They will push through places 

 where there is hardly enough water to cover them."^ 



•Smith, J. B., 1904, N. J. Agr. Exp. Sta., Report on Mosquitoes, p. 98. 



