3g MISC. PUBLICATION 336, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



been retained for this species by the European workers and is in use 

 in most of the Old World countries. Methods employed in the abate- 

 ment of the domestic mosquitoes are discussed under Mosquito Control 

 (p. 14). 



Females are distinguished from those of other southern Culex, in 

 which the proboscis and tarsi are unmarked, by the conspicuous white 

 abdominal bands, rounded on the posterior borders and interrupted 

 or much narrowed at the lateral margins. The mesonotum is grayish, 

 with narrow lanceolate scales. 



CULEX PIPIENS L. 



(The northern house mosquito) 



This is the common house mosquito throughout the Northern 

 States. The species was not previously known to occur south of 

 Virginia, but the writers have recently identified it from material 

 collected at Carey ville, Tenn. (S. E. Shields, 1936), and from Smith- 

 field, N. C. (D. F. Ashton, 1937). According to Alan Stone (per- 

 sonal communication), the United States National Museum has the 

 species also from Lake Lure, N. C. It seems desirable, therefore, 

 to include the species in the present list, although the region as 

 originally selected was intended to be exclusive of its range. A 

 reported occurrence of pipiens in New Orleans {12) is not given con- 

 sideration, as the identification was undoubtedly incorrect. 



The habits and general appearance of Culex pipiens are very 

 similar to those of C. quinquefasciatus, and in areas where the two 

 species overlap identifications should be made by examination of the 

 male terminalia. Female specimens may be identified provisionally 

 by the characters given in the key to species. 



CULEX SALINARIUS Coq. 



(Syn., C. nigritulus Smith (not Zett.)) 



The larvae are found principally in grassy pools of either fresh 

 or brackish water, and sometimes also in the bilge water of boats, 

 and in barrels. The species occurs throughout the Southeast. It is 

 not abundant in peninsular Florida, although it becomes more numer- 

 ous at Orlando during the winter. It is common elsewhere along the 

 Gulf and Atlantic coasts and is found less abundantly inland. The 

 adult females bite freely out of doors at night and will enter houses 

 to feed if necessary. 



Culex salinarius females are recognized by the presence of narrow 

 bands or a few scattered scales of a yellowish or dingy-white color 

 at the base of the abdominal segments. The seventh segment may 

 be largely pale-scaled, and the posterior margins of the segments 

 may appear whitish at times. The mesonotum is covered with fine, 

 hairlike, brownish scales. 



CULEX NIGRIPALPUS Theob. 



(Syn., C. similis Theob.) 



The larvae are common in ditches and grassy pools in central 

 and southern Florida, where the species appears to have largely 

 replaced its near relative Culex salinarius. At Orlando the larvae 

 may nearly always be found during the summer in street catch basins 



