THE MOSQUITOES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES 55 



one of the two species. The last two segments of the hind tarsi are 

 white, and the sides of the thorax have a few pale purplish scales. 



Genus MEGARHINUS Robineau-Desvoidy 



The mosquitoes of this genus are very large and brilliantly colored. 

 The long, tapered proboscis is bent downward (fig. 2, A ) at nearly a 

 right angle and is not fitted for puncturing, the adults probably 

 subsisting entirely on nectar, as they have been observed feeding in 

 flowers. The eggs are laid singly on the surface of the water. The 

 larvae breed in water in tree holes and occasionally in artificial re- 

 ceptacles. They are predacious on other mosquito larvae, principally 

 Orthopodomyia signifera and Aedes triseriatus, as well as being 

 cannibalistic, but owing to their rarity and their restricted habitat 

 they cannot be of much benefit in controlling economic species. 



Two closely related species are found in the United States dis- 

 tinguishable only by tarsal markings in the male. 



MEGARHINUS SEPTENTRIONALIS D. and K. 



(Syn., M. portoricensis How. (not Von Roder), M. herriclcii Theob.) 



The larvae of this large mosquito are found principally in water in 

 tree holes, and occasionally in rock holes and artificial water recep- 

 tacles, where they feed on other mosquito larvae. Several male speci- 

 mens in the writers' collection from Mound, La., and Bay Saint 

 Louis, Miss., all have the dark fore tarsi of this form. The species 

 has been recorded from all the Southeastern States except Florida, 

 South Carolina, and Alabama. 



MEGARHINUS RUTILUS Coq. 



This species also breeds in tree holes, but it is very rare and almost 

 nothing is known of its habits. It is distinguished from septentri- 

 onalis by minor characters of the males. It has been recorded from 

 Florida and Georgia. Two males at hand from Savannah, Ga., (D. 

 G. Hall, collector) and several males from Orlando, Fla., show the 

 pale tarsal markings of this form. Single records from Alabama and 

 Mississippi {Jfi) are very questionable, since the identifications were 

 made from female specimens. 



Genus ORTHOPODOMYIA Theobald 



(Syn., Bancroftia Lutz) 



The mosquitoes of this genus breed in water in tree holes and 

 occasionally in artificial water containers. The eggs are laid singly 

 at the water's edge and hatch in 2 to 3 days. Two species are found 

 in the Southern States. 



ORTHOPODOMYIA SIGNIFERA (Coq.) 



Orthopodomyia signifera is a medium-sized mottled black and 

 white mosquito, which superficially resembles the yellow-fever mos- 

 quito. The mesonotum (fig. 12, /) has six or eight delicate longi- 

 tudinal lines of white scales, all of which are nearly straight. The 

 larvae breed in water in tree holes and rain barrels and are preyed 

 upon by Megarhinus larvae. Thibault (iX£), in Arkansas, reported 

 it as being abundant near the breeding places and as entering dwell- 



