MOSQUITOS OR CULICIDAE OP NEW YORK STATE 29* 



marsh mosquito prefers brackish or salt water, but occasionally 

 occurs in some numbers in fresh water. It never breeds in any 

 numbers in localities where small fish or fiddler crabs occur, and 

 ideal conditions are found in puddles and ditches, where there are 

 no enemies, and particularly in holes and hollows on flats covered 

 only by unusual tides or during storms. The flood of water 

 hatches the eggs, and the pools remaining swarm with larvae a 

 day or two after the deluge. The prolificacy of this species is 

 strongly illustrated by Mr Viereck's estimate of 10,600,000 larvae 

 occurring in a pool containing some 1894 sq. ft. This species does 

 not breed on areas flooded by normal tides, or among grass or cat- 

 tails, where there is considerable shade. 



Culex discolor Coq. 



PI. 46, 48, fig. 4, 5 respectively 



This is a yellowish brown, moderate sized mesquito with body 

 mottled and variegated with brown, the legs and beak banded and 

 the wings spotted, according to Dr Smith. 



Description. The original description follows : 



Palpi with a cluster of white scales at the apexes, upright scales 

 of occiput yellow, whitish cross bands of abdomen prolonged for- 

 ward in the middle, crossing or almost crossing the segments, 

 scales on posterior side of front and middle tibiae and on anterior 

 side of the hind ones almost wholly pale yellow, first tarsal joint 

 bearing many yellow scales, black and yellow scales of wings not 

 evenly distributed, the black ones forming a distinct spot at fork- 

 ing of the second vein with the third, another on upper branch of 

 fifth vein at the hind cross vein, and a third on the apical third of 

 the last vein, remaining scales of this vein wholly yellow ; length 

 4 mm. 



The larva according to Dr Smith is from l^ to about -h inch 



in length and is yellowish brown in color. The head is almost as 



large as the thorax, being a little excavated before the antennae. 



The latter are white, almost as long as the head, thickest near the 



middle and with a double curve, the tips pointing outwardly. The 



tuft of a dozen hairs, well before the middle, does not reach the 



tip. The mandibles are peculiar in that they have but one dorsal 



spine. The comb consists of five to eight scales attached to a 



narrow band like a fringe and not directly to the skin. Each 



