THE MOSQUITOES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES 65 
In preparing to identify a mosquito specimen, one should make a 
preliminary examination at a comparatively low magnification, to 
note the more obvious markings of the tarsi, proboscis, thorax, ete. 
With experience the approximate position of the insect, frequently 
both genus and species, is recognized from this examination. In the 
Southern States, after the Anopheles are separated, nearly all the 
Petiole of 2 ao 
Aunera! Costal — Subcosta/ margina/ cell 
Cross vein fe GCs ren : piboeostal 
Y Costal vel é CC 
€ CEira/ vein 
FIcgurRE 16.—Wing of mosquito (Howard, Dyar, and Knab). The correspon- 
ding symbols for the veins in the Comstock-Needham system are: 1, R; 2.1 
and 2.2, R. and Rs3; 3, Ras; 4.1, Mise; 4.2, Ms; 5.1 and 5.2, Cus and Cuz; an- 
terior cross vein, 7—m,; posterior (basal) cross vein, m—cu. 
species having the legs unbanded and the mesonotum unmarked are 
Culex, Theobaldia, or Deinocerites. The species of banded-legged 
Culex are extremely rare in this area. In the species of all the other 
genera, except Psorophora cyanescens and Aedes cinereus, some of 
the tarsal segments are ringed with white, or the mesonotum has 
bicolorous scaling in definite patterns. 
SCQIICNT GF 
SEGMENT Le 
SCOTIEIIT SE. 
Figure 17.—Characteristic shapes of tip of female abdomen: A, Aedes (also 
similar in Psorophora) ; B, Culex. 
Aedes and Psorophora females can nearly always be distinguished 
from those of other genera by the tapered end of the abdomen, as 
shown in figure 17. This is a very useful character to remember in 
working with the keys, but it has not been employed as the principal 
means of separating these genera because it is not always definite. 
(Particular care must be taken in examining specimens filled with 
