AEDES IDAH0ENSI8 727 



Alameda, Saskatchewan, June 5, 1902 (J. Fletcher) ; Olds, Saskatchewan, July 

 5, 1901 (J. Fletcher) ; Eosthem, Saskatchewan, July 13 (J. Fletcher) ; Kaslo, 

 British Columbia, June 13, 1903 (R. P. Currie) and June 24, 1903 (H. G. 

 Dyar) ; Fargo, North Dakota, July 2, 1915 (W. B. Bell) ; Judith Basin, Mon- 

 tana, June 8, 1914 (J. E. Parker) ; Cascade, Montana, June 4, 1914 (J. E. 

 Parker). Eeported also from California (C. S. Ludlow). 



The record of AMes spencerii from California is open to doubt. We have not 

 seen the specimens, but think that, if of this group at all, they more probably 

 represent Aedes idahoensis than spenceru. 



This species shows great variation in the coloration of the imago. The lighter 

 scales on the mesonotum vary in color from silvery white to ochreous yellow and 

 also in extent. The abdominal markings of the female are excessively variable. 

 The median dorsal stripe may be obsolete, each segment being black scaled with 

 grey margins. In many specimens the grey scales predominate, sometimes leav- 

 ing only a few scattered black scales on some of the segments. In still other 

 specimens the dorsum of the abdomen is entirely grey scaled. 



Culex punctatus Meigen (Klass. u. Beschr. europ. zweifl. Ins., i, 6, 1804) of 

 Europe is similarly marked and undoubtedly closely related to Aedes spencerii. 

 It may even prove to be identical, but the species has not been studied by modem 

 workers. Theobald indicates Meigen's species as a synonym of Oulex rusticus 

 Eossi (Fauna Etrusca, ii, 333, 1790) and refers Culex quadratimaculatus Mac- 

 quart (Hist. Nat. Ins., Dipt., i, 34, 1834) to the same species, but he has seen 

 no specimens ; the Isttter is a change of name for Culex pungens, under which 

 name it has been described by Eobineau-Desvoidy (Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, 

 iii, 407, 1827). 



AEDES IDAHOENSIS (Theobald) Dyar & Knab. 

 Orabhamia spencerii var. idahoensis Theobald, Mon. Culic, iii, 250, 1903. 

 Ochlerotatus spenceri Coquillett (in part), U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Bnt, Tech. Ser. 11, 



21, 1906. 

 Aedes idahoensis Dyar & Knab, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xxxv, 57, 1908. 



OBIOINAL DESCEEPTION 01" GBABHAMIA SPENCEBn, VABIETT IDAHOENSIS : 



Abdominal basal bands almost white, broad apical bands yellowish-white to 

 white, very narrow, almost obliterated on some segments; the abdomen not pale at 

 the sides, so that only broad basal and narrow apical pale areas are shown, the two 

 apical segments are mostly pale scaled, and there are scattered pale scales on the 

 others. The pale thoracic scales are also of a more frosty hue than in the type. 



Professor Aldrich sends the following note regarding this species: " It is so small 

 that it readily crawls through ordinary mosquito screen. At the hotel in Market 

 Lake it was found necessary to apply a thick coat of paint to the screens after they 

 were in place; this reduced the size of the holes enough so that no further trouble 

 was experienced in their coming through. It Is a very annoying species, and seems to 

 breed altogether in an arm of the Snake River which lies beside the little town, and 

 which has no current except during the period of high water in the spring. Two 

 miles from the town, where the only breeding-place is the seepage from irrigating 

 ditches, there is a different species of mosquito." 

 Descbiption of Female and Male of Aisdes idahoensis (Labva Unknown) : 



Female. — Proboscis moderately long and slender, subcylindrical, the labellae 

 conically tapered; vestiture brownish black; setse minute, those on the labellae 

 more prominently outstanding. Palpi short, less than one-fourth the length of 

 the proboscis, black, the setse moderate. Antennse with the joints subequal, 

 black, rugose, pilose; second joint somewhat enlarged and clothed with white 

 scales on inner side; tori subspherical, with a cup-shaped apical excavation, 

 blackish, largely clothed with small white scales on inner side. Clypeus round- 

 edly triangular, prominent, black, nude. Eyes black. Occiput black, clothed 

 with narrow curved scales on the vertex, flat ones on the sides, all yellowish- 

 white, many pale, short, erect forked scales on the nape; bristles along margins 

 of eyes black, those projecting between the eyes pale. 



