6 



A Monograph of Culicidae. 



The general shape of the head and the cephalic setae and 

 hairs on the body are also of use in identifying species. The 

 most prominent structure is the siphon, the characters being the 

 general form and size, presence or absence of setae, including the 

 peculiar pecten at the base of the air tube. 



The comb consists of a patch of spines, and forms a lateral 

 organ on the eighth segment, just, below the air tube. 



The spines form a more or less triangular area, and vary from 

 5 to 100 ; it must be noticed that the number varies in each 

 species to some extent. In Annphelinae the comb is very different 

 from the Culicinae, and is much more specialised. 



The following from Professor Felt's " Key for the Identifica- 

 tion of Mosquito Larvae," will serve to show the usefulness of 

 these characters in identifying the various species." 54 * 



a. Air-tube long, at least 4 times as long as the 

 diameter of its base, 

 b. Air-tube very long, slender, slightly con- 

 stricted in the middle ; antennae white 



banded Culex territans. 



bb. Air-tube very long, stout, tapering uni- 

 formly, 

 c. Comb scales 60, pecten teeth 3 to 4 



branched Culex salinarius. 



cc. Comb scales 80, pecten apparently simple Culicella dyari. 

 ccc. Comb scales narrow, spine-like, about 20 



in a row, resembling grating Culicella melanurus. 



bbb. Air-tube about 5 times the width of its 

 base. 



c. Pecten pale, divided into 3 to 5 long, 



slender processes. 



d. Antennal tuft before the middle Culex restuans. 



dd. Antennal tuft at outer third. 



e. Antennae not white banded ; air-tube 

 somewhat fusiform ; terminal spines 



of comb scales fine Culex pipiens. 



ee. Antennae usually conspicuously white 

 banded ; air-tube tapering, 

 f . Air-tube not over four times as long as 

 wide, terminal spines of comb 



scales coarse Culex tarsalis. 



ft*. Air-tube over 4 times as long as wide, 



terminal spines of comb scales fine Culex secutor. 

 cc. Pecten teeth pale, divided into two nearly 



equal processes Deinocerites cancer. 



* Bull, 97, Ent. 24. Div. Ent., New York State Museum, p. 445 (1905). 



