THE MOSQUITOES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES 37 



West, Fla., in 1904, and apparently developed one brood there, ac- 

 cording to the records of its discoverer, George N. MacDonell. For- 

 tunately it did not become established and has not since been reported 

 from that locality. At the present time the only place in the United 

 States where it is known to occur is the lower Rio Grande Valley, 

 Tex. The distribution of this species and the possibilities of its be- 

 coming established in southern Florida and along the Gulf coast 

 have been discussed recently by King (74). 



Genus CULEX Linnaeus 



(Syn., in part, Melanoconion Theob., Mochlostyrax D. and K., Neoculex Dyar, 

 Choeroporpa Dyar) 



The mosquitoes of this genus breed in more or less permanent col- 

 lections of water. The eggs are laid on the surface of the water 

 in rafts of a hundred or more (fig. 3, J.), and they hatch within 2 

 or 3 days at summer temperatures. Breeding is continuous during 

 warm weather and even through the winter in the warmer parts 

 of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Elsewhere the winter is passed in 

 hibernation as adult females. 



In identifying some of their collections of Gulex, particularly those 

 taken in light traps, the writers have found it convenient to use 

 subgeneric names, since the specimens frequently are in poor condition 

 or difficult otherwise to identify as to species. For the small species 

 of Gulex Dyar's subgeneric name Mochlostyrax has been employed 

 previously, but Edwards (J$) has reclassified them on larval charac- 

 ters that place two of the three local species in Melanoconion. Since 

 the differences are of a minor nature and it is difficult to define the 

 two subgenera by either classification, the writers are of the opinion 

 that only the earlier name Melanoconion need be retained. The 10 

 southeastern species of Gulex may then be placed in three subgenera 

 as follows: (Gulex) quinquefaseiatus, restuans, salinarius, nigripal- 

 pus, tarsalis, and comiger; (Neoculex) apicalis; (Melanoconion) 

 erraticus, peccator, and pilosus. 



Adult specimens of Melanoconion are of less than medium size 

 and are distinguished superficially from the other subgenera by the 

 wider wing scales (more noticeably on the branches of vein 2) and 

 by the presence of flat, dusky, or pale scales on the occiput. In er- 

 raticus the latter character is often obscure, and the examination 

 should be made at fairly high magnifications and with good lighting. 

 These scales should not be confused with the patch of broad white 

 scales at the side of the head, which is present in the other sub- 

 genera as well. 



CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS Say 



(Syn., C. fatigans Wied., 0. pungens Wied., etc.; the southern house mosquito, 



or house Culex) 



The southern house mosquito breeds in water barrels and other 

 artificial containers, in street gutters and catch basins, and also in 

 ground pools if the water is polluted. It is one of the domestic 

 mosquitoes and is generally the most abundant night-biting house 

 mosquito in the cities and towns of the Southern States. In the 

 North it is replaced by its very near relative Gulex pipiens, and the 

 range of the two overlaps in Virginia, northeastern Tennessee, North 

 Carolina, and other intermediate States. The name fatigans has 



