BIOLOGY OP PHILIPPINE CULICIDJE. 245 



The first abdominal segment is ornamented dorsally by a peculiar, compound, 

 submedian bristle. This bristle, simple and stout at its point of origin, divides 

 into eight or nine branches, each of which in turn divides into as many more, 

 the last being pectinate, so that the appearance under the microscope is that 

 of a regularly branching tree. Anterior to each of these peculiar bristles, are 

 two other simple ones. 



The respiratory siphons have no especial mark for characterization. Their 

 bases are dark brown, their apices pale ochraceous. 



The pupal stage lasts for three to four days. 



The adult male and female are shown on Plates V and VI, respectively. 



Adult: The adult insect has already been described." 



HABITS OF THE ADULT. 



It would be difBcult to imagine a mosquito, or any other insect, which 

 could be more of a strategist than this one. It is altogether a day 

 flier, individuals being seen after dark only on the very rarest occasions. 

 They are extremely fond of dark objects as a place of rest and when 

 found upon light-colored ones they are always on the shadow side. 



Persons wearing black stockings are sure to be annoyed very greatly 

 if they sit quietly in one place for any length of time. These mosquitoes 

 bite upon the back of the hands and fingers when the individual's back 

 is turned to the window and a book is held in position for reading. The 

 insects are so wary that they are killed only with the greatest difficulty. 

 After gorging themselves with blood, they fly, rather sluggishly, but 

 directly, to a dark corner, where they will sit upon the wall or other 

 object during the remainder of the day or night. 



The bite of this mosquito is always irritating, whether it is left to 

 finish its meal and quietly withdraw its proboscis, or whether it is killed 

 or frightened away before it has finished. A vigorous rubbing of the 

 affected spot will quickly cause a diffusion of the injected irritant and a 

 rapid cessation of the itching, as I have proved by observations upon 

 myself; but for several days afterwards, if the spot is accidentally 

 scratched or lightly contused, the actual point of insertion of the pro- 

 boscis will again begin to itch. Usually, a tiny, red, subcutaneous point 

 is all that is visible, but occasionally there is slight cedema. The bites 

 of this mosquito cause the most irritation when they occur upon the 

 knuckles of the fingers, a favorite place of attack. 



A female of this species will continue her attacks for an hour if she 



is continually driven off, the insect generally flying up and behind the 



. victim and returning at the side and under the arm of the chair in which 



he may be sitting. Only a few minutes at rest are necessary before these 



sly pests take the opportunity of biting, and the killing of one appears to 



" This Journal, (1906), 1, 996. 

 74196 4 



