AEDES AURIFEE 769 



tooth before as long as the others, three teeth at base, a broad filament and five 

 serrate ones within ; process below humped and cleft at tip, with hair patches ; a 

 rounded elevation below ; four scattered filaments within ; a row of seven long 

 hairs at base. Maxilla elongate hemispherical, divided by a broad suture ; inner 

 half densely haired, except toward the suture, a row of very long hairs at tip ; 

 outer half with a patch of hair near base, two filaments near the suture and a 

 spine on the other side near the tip ; palpus small, constricted centrally, the four 

 minute digits approximated on the summit. Thorax rounded, wider than long, 

 angled at hair-tufts ; hairs abundant, long, the subdorsal prothoracic ones single. 

 Abdomen rather slender, the anterior segments shorter; hairs rather long; 

 laterals of first two segments multiple, double on third to fifth, single on sixth ; 

 secondary subdorsal hairs in rather long tufts on third to fifth segments ; tracheal 

 tubes broad, band-shaped. Air-tube stout, tapered a little on apical two-thirds, 

 over three times as long as wide; pecten reaching nearly to middle, the two 

 distal teeth detached, followed by a single ample hair-tuft ; single spine of pecten 

 with a long shaft, wider at base, with six small branches toward base and some- 

 times small ones on the other side opposite the outer one. Lateral comb of 

 eighth segment of many scales in a triangular patch ; single scale elliptical, with 

 eight stout side teeth, longer distally, and one very long simple apical spine. 

 Anal segment longer than wide, the dorsal plate reaching well down the sides, 

 incised at the lower angle ; dorsal tuft a brush and hair on each side ; a single 

 lateral hair ; ventral brush well developed, continued basally beyond barred area; 

 anal gills moderate, tapered, about as long as the segment. 



The larvas occur in the early spring in pools in swamp-land from overwinter- 

 ing eggs. The adults appear early. Professor Smith has recorded the following 

 observations, made in New Jersey : 



" Though aurifer is by no means common anywhere, it is one of the most blood- 

 thirsty species we have. It has never been found far away from its breeding 

 places and does not enter houses, but does fly for some distance at night, and is 

 not so closely confined to the woods as canadensis. If its haunts are entered dur- 

 ing the day it attacks fiercely and fearlessly. Mr. Brakeley, who is the only person 

 known to me who has any considerable personal acquaintance with this species, 

 several times refers to this point in his notes and mentions the fact that when 

 once the insect has tasted blood it is almost impossible to drive it off and it may 

 be taken without difiiciilty 



" The earliest date for adult aurifer is April 33d, the latest for larvae is May 

 10th, from which the adult was bred May 13th. Adults were taken as late as 

 July 24th, yet blood-thirsty, and occurred in considerable swarms during the 

 last days of June. This would indicate an adult life period of nearly three 

 months — much longer than we have been inclined to credit them with. It seems 

 scarcely possible that a summer brood of larvse could have been overlooked, since 

 Mr. Brakeley collected continuously through June, and the Orange Mountains 

 and Great Piece meadows were looked over again and again during the entire 

 season. 



" The dates above given are all from Lahaway, so that no objection can be 

 made that the extremes are from different climatic conditions. That the matter 

 was held in mind, Mr. Brakeley's notes of June 25, 1903, show clearly. He 

 made a trip into aurifer territory, ran into a swarm and ' the whole shooting 

 match made a dive for me, prompted by a thirst from end to end : bill first and 

 legs last.' So thirsty were they and so much in a hurry that they did not even 

 stop to sing, and so eager in sucking that there was no trouble in bottling the 

 specimens that had gotten a hold. All the pools nearby were examined closely, 

 but no larvse, pupae or signs of recent development were observed. The places 

 where the larvae had been found early in the season were then dry. 



