﻿126 
  

  

  DAVID 
  MILLER. 
  

  

  The 
  abdominal 
  segments 
  well 
  denned. 
  A 
  pair 
  of 
  long 
  dorsal 
  spines, 
  one 
  on 
  each 
  

   side, 
  towards 
  the 
  posterior 
  margin 
  of 
  segments 
  1-6. 
  Anal 
  plates 
  (fig. 
  24) 
  more 
  or 
  

  

  Fig. 
  24. 
  Anal 
  plates 
  of 
  pupa. 
  

  

  less 
  circular 
  and 
  rather 
  bladder-like, 
  a 
  conspicuous 
  ridge 
  supporting 
  the 
  outer 
  

   edge 
  of 
  each 
  basally 
  ; 
  the 
  central 
  transverse 
  ridge, 
  running 
  dorsally 
  and 
  ventrally, 
  

   terminates 
  in 
  a 
  short 
  bristle 
  ; 
  anal 
  segment 
  truncated. 
  

  

  Habits. 
  

  

  Opifex 
  fuscus 
  is 
  restricted 
  to 
  the 
  rocky 
  coast 
  line 
  and 
  breeds 
  in 
  the 
  semi-saline 
  

   pools 
  containing 
  water 
  left 
  by 
  high 
  tides. 
  The 
  winter 
  is 
  passed 
  as 
  larvae 
  and 
  pupae, 
  

   considerable 
  numbers 
  of 
  the 
  adults 
  emerging 
  in 
  the 
  early 
  spring. 
  

  

  The 
  larvae 
  are 
  carnivorous 
  and 
  cannibalistic, 
  but 
  also 
  " 
  browse 
  " 
  amongst 
  the 
  

   sand 
  and 
  accumulations 
  on 
  the 
  bottom 
  of 
  the 
  pools 
  ; 
  they 
  are 
  able 
  to 
  remain 
  sub- 
  

   merged 
  for 
  lengthy 
  periods 
  when 
  feeding, 
  and 
  occasionally 
  come 
  to 
  the 
  surface 
  

   where 
  they 
  remain 
  for 
  a 
  moment 
  before 
  returning 
  to 
  the 
  bottom 
  of 
  the 
  pool, 
  although 
  

   at 
  other 
  times 
  they 
  hang 
  suspended 
  from 
  or 
  beneath 
  the 
  surface. 
  Masses 
  of 
  the 
  pupae 
  

   and 
  larvae 
  are 
  often 
  to 
  be 
  seen 
  resting, 
  suspended 
  and 
  practically 
  motionless 
  for 
  

   long 
  periods, 
  well 
  beneath 
  the 
  surface 
  of 
  the 
  water. 
  Large 
  quantities 
  of 
  sand 
  pass 
  

   through 
  the 
  intestines 
  and 
  are 
  voided 
  as 
  cylindrical 
  pellets. 
  The 
  larvae 
  will 
  be 
  

   frequently 
  noticed 
  to 
  double 
  up 
  and 
  draw 
  the 
  hairs 
  of 
  the 
  anal 
  segment 
  through 
  

   the 
  mouth 
  appendages 
  or 
  clean 
  the 
  orifice 
  of 
  the 
  siphon. 
  They 
  also 
  comb 
  out 
  the 
  

   mouth-brushes 
  on 
  the 
  comb 
  of 
  the 
  eighth 
  segment. 
  The 
  pupae 
  in 
  swimming 
  propel 
  

   themselves 
  forward 
  by 
  a 
  backward 
  flip 
  of 
  the 
  caudal 
  appendages, 
  at 
  the 
  same 
  time 
  

   turning 
  the 
  dorsum 
  of 
  the 
  thorax 
  over 
  in 
  the 
  direction 
  in 
  which 
  they 
  desire 
  to 
  go. 
  

  

  Large 
  numbers 
  of 
  the 
  adults 
  rest 
  on 
  the 
  surface 
  of 
  the 
  pools, 
  over 
  which 
  they 
  are 
  

   capable 
  of 
  moving 
  with 
  considerable 
  rapidity, 
  aided 
  by 
  the 
  small 
  hairs 
  along 
  the 
  

   underside 
  of 
  the 
  tarsi. 
  The 
  whole 
  tarsus 
  is 
  not 
  applied 
  to 
  the 
  water, 
  the 
  apical 
  

   joints 
  being 
  held 
  upwards 
  from 
  the 
  surface. 
  The 
  mosquito 
  is 
  readily 
  able 
  to 
  rise 
  

   on 
  the 
  wing, 
  but 
  when 
  at 
  rest 
  on 
  the 
  water 
  the 
  body 
  is 
  carried 
  at 
  a 
  slope 
  posteriorly, 
  

   the 
  head 
  being 
  in 
  a 
  slightly 
  higher 
  plane 
  than 
  the 
  apex 
  of 
  the 
  abdomen, 
  while 
  the 
  

   proboscis 
  projects 
  forward 
  parallel 
  to 
  the 
  water-surface. 
  

  

  Professor 
  H. 
  B. 
  Kirk, 
  of 
  Victoria 
  College, 
  Wellington, 
  who 
  is 
  preparing 
  an 
  account 
  

   of 
  the 
  habits 
  of 
  this 
  mosquito, 
  finds 
  that 
  the 
  eggs 
  are 
  black 
  and 
  laid 
  singly 
  upon 
  the 
  

   rocks, 
  against 
  which 
  they 
  are 
  inconspicuous 
  on 
  account 
  of 
  their 
  colour. 
  

  

  