THE PUPAL STAGE OF CULEX. 



An Inaugural Dissertation for the Degree of Ph.D. in 

 the University of Leipzig. 



By C. Herbert Hurst, Lecturer in the Victoria University, Assistant 

 Lecturer in Zoology in the Owens College. 



[With Plate V.] 



Shallow pools in most parts of Europe, and especially the 

 smaller pools in woods, swarm in early spring with larvae of Culex, 

 hatched from eggs laid in floating masses by the impregnated 

 females which have lived through the winter. These larvae have 

 been described by Swammerdam (1) and others, and most recently 

 by Raschke (2). 



After a few weeks the pupa escapes from the larval cuticle, and 

 four days later the perfect insect flies free. 



Though the pupal stage is the one of which I propose to give a 

 fuller account than has yet appeared, it is necessary to the proper 

 understanding of it that some account of the preceding and following 

 states should also be given, and especially of the mode of life in each 

 state. 



The larva is an exceedingly active creature, swimming by a 

 wriggling movement of the body, this being aided by a median 

 fin-like series of seta; beneath the last segment. The head is provided 

 with jaws and setae, by means of which the solid food is collected 

 and masticated. A pair of unjointed antennae of considerable length 

 arise from the sides of the head, and behind the base of each is a 

 compound eye and an ocellus. 



The head is moveably attached by a neck to the broad, rounded 

 thorax. The abdomen is long and slender, and composed. 



