508 MOSQUITOES OF NORTH AMEMCA 



The eggs (plate 147, fig. 685) are laid in boat-shaped masses on the surface 

 of the water in marshes containing sedges or other aquatic vegetation, the egg- 

 boats held against the sides of plants by capillary action. The larvae, on hatch- 

 ing, descend to the bottom and attach themselves by the peculiarly shaped air- 

 tubes to the vascular roots of the aquatic vegetation in the mud. They grow 

 slowly, completing their metamorphosis the following year. The pupae do not 

 come to the surface, being attached to the roots by their breathing-trumpets. 

 The exact method of the emergence of the adults has not been observed. The 

 adults fly from June to October, having issued at different periods during the 

 season from larvse developing at different times. There is, however, but a single 

 annual generation. Hibernation occurs in the larval state. The females are 

 rather severe biters and apparently travel considerable distances over wooded 

 country. They will enter houses. 



The larvae in the first stage have the head more elongated than in the fully 

 grown larva; the antennae larger, but less elongate, the apical portion not 

 finely drawn out, the hair-tuft represented by a single hair situated close to 

 base. Air-tube bottle-shaped, with terminal hooks. Anal segment without the 

 ventral brush. Lateral comb of the eighth segment of six long spines. 



Owing to the peculiar method of life of the larva, it was long unknown. The 

 first discovery of the larva was made by Mr. E. P. Currie, who obtained eggs by 

 confining captured females over water. The eggs hatched, but in the absence 

 of proper conditions the larvae died in the first stage. Later tiie species became of 

 economic importance in New Jersey, and the increased interest in the matter 

 induced Mr. J. Turner Brakeley to give the matter special study. His account 

 of the discovery of the larva and the life history has been communicated to us in 

 a letter and is given in his own words : 



" I see by the June '04 chat with you [Dr. Dyar], how really little I knew 

 about the perturbans, until I actually ('07 and '08) found out. Lahaway was 

 overhauled for perturbans breeding-places by ordinary methods of wriggler 

 hunting — bottom and top dipping, etc. Lantern trips, covering the vicinity 

 around Lahaway for several miles, gave collections. This showed dispersion. 

 This with other facts convinced me that the perturbans was either a short- or 

 long-distance migrant, and did not breed at Lahaway, any more than did the 

 [^Aedes] cantator and solidtans, with which it appeared (1903, '04, '05). If 

 memory serves, as Lahaway and vicinity was a non-breeder, the question was 

 dropped. 



" Up to 1907, the perturbans question was, as friend Smith puts it, simply a 

 question of 'scientific interest'; but in 1907 it became of 'economic value.' 

 Being good-natured, on his requesting J. T. B.'s aid, I again, in 1907, resumed 

 action on the mysterious perturbans problem. Did they really breed at Laha- 

 way? If so, where? And while they might not have bred at Lahaway in 1903 

 and 1904, possibly they might have done so later. Did considerable thinking 

 and then resumed the lantern and net. A collection made in front of the house 

 from 7 : 45 to 8 :10 p. m. gave 186 perturbans in 35 minutes, indicating aiun- 

 dance and, ? do they breed at Lahaway. Pondered on the problem, using pre- 

 vious experience. To breed they must have water. Their arboreal day-habits 

 demanded leafage. That is why, with other reasons, I selected the northeast 

 corner of my Mink Island Reservoir as the most probable breeding-place, a spot 

 I had never examined — semi-inaccessible — ^rough and a semi-marsh. July 24, 

 1907 (if memory serves) at daylight investigated the spot; searched for larvae 

 and found none. There were no adults arwing. In fact no form of perturbans, 

 adult or larvae were seen. But I was sure of my old rule that as soon as the 

 whip-poor-will will give its first evening call the adult perturbans would duly 

 show up. 



