﻿248 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. lOO 



I prefer not to separate them at the present time. The problem of 

 development of geographical subspecies through isolation in island 

 groups is a complex one and requires adequate material from all inter- 

 mediate points for its solution. 



Specimens examined : 22 individual rearings, 233 adults, 320 larvae, 

 123 pupae. 



Biology. — T. solomonis is a general breeder in small natural and 

 artificial containers. On Guadalcanal larvae have been collected in 

 tree holes, papaya stumps, bamboo stubble, and various artificial con- 

 tainers, such as large and small tin cans, oil drums, lister bags, and 

 water collections in canvas. Frequently the water in these breeding 

 places is extremely foul and contains large amounts of decaying or- 

 ganic matter. It is in this type of breeding place that the larvae appear 

 to develop in largest numbers. There are no records of this species 

 breeding in leaf-axils of plants. The larvae have the usual Tripteroides 

 habit of resting on their backs on the bottom of their breeding places. 

 They are noted for their sluggish wriggling movement. Wlien dis- 

 turbed they back away, remaining on their backs. The aquatic cycle, 

 under laboratory conditions, requires about two and a half or three 

 weeks. In comparison with the size of the adults and larvae, the pupae 

 are disproportionately large. There is little seasonal variation in 

 abundance of this species since moderate rains usually maintain enough 

 water in breeding places. 



In the field the larvae are easily recognized by their short, stubby 

 white bodies densely covered with stellate tufts. In tree holes a red 

 pigment is deposited in the fat bodies of the larvae, giving them a 

 purplish-red coloration. T. lipovskyi and hinotata have larvae of a 

 similar appearance, but these can usually be distinguished by even 

 stubbier bodies and a greater development of stellate tufts. 



The adults are frequently collected attempting to bite during the 

 day in the vicinity of their breeding places. They may become a serious 

 pest around human dwellings, where artificial containers are allowed 

 to accumulate water and are not oiled. They are readily attracted 

 to lights and were frequently collected in routine night hand-catches 

 on Guadalcanal. On this island solomonis was collected only along 

 tlie coast and never far back in the j ungle. In common w^ith atripes and 

 imnctolateralis^ this species appears to be semidomestic. As it enters 

 dwellings and readily takes human blood, it is a potential pest and 

 should be controlled. No information is available on its relationship 

 to disease transmission. 



T. solomonis has been found associated with T. stonei in bamboo 

 stubble ; with T. lipovskyi in bamboo stubble, tree holes, and artificial 

 containers ; with T. hinotata and T. torokinae in tree holes ; and Aedes 

 quasiscutellaHs Earner and Bohart, A, dlholineatics (Theobald), A. 



