Uranotaenia in Solomon Islands — B elkin 
Section A2.— Like section Al except: anten- 
nal hair 1-A branched, about as long as 
antenna; head hairs 5, 6-C slender, not 
spike-like; abdominal hair 4-II forked, not 
stellate; pecten reaching to 0,8 of siphon; 
siphonal hair 1-S about as long as siphon; 
head hair 14 dendritic. 
Section C2. — Thorax and abdomen without 
dorsal or ventral stellate tufts ; antennal hair 
1-A near apex of antenna, single; thoracic 
hairs 8-M, 7-T short, multiple but not 
barbed; hairs 9-M, T long, single; abdom- 
inal hairs 6-I-IV subequal, all arising from 
tubercles; hair 8-1 absent, hair ll-I present; 
comb plates united dorsally into a saddle; 
comb scales and pecten teeth simple, with- 
out fringes but with or without basal denti- 
cles; ventral valve hair 13-S a simple single 
hair not twisted at base; some valve hairs 
branched; anal hairs 2, 3, 4-X single; head 
hair 14 a simple, slender hair. 
Species groups within these sections are 
separated in the Solomons chiefly on the fol- 
lowing characters: head hairs 4, 9, 11-C; an- 
tennal hairs 1, 2, 3, 4- A; thoracic hairs 3, 4, 7, 
9, 10, 14-P; abdominal hairs 1, 6, 13 on seg- 
ments I-VII; pentad hairs; development of 
ventral valve and its hairs; hairs 2, 3, 4a, b-X; 
size of anal segment. Individual species are 
distinguishable apparently on the differential 
development and branching of all the larger 
hairs, on characters of comb scales and pec- 
ten teeth, length of siphon, spiculation of 
caudal margin of siphon, and length of anal 
gills. 
Montschadsky (1930: 580-582; pi. 8, fig. 
12) describes and figures for U. ungukulata 
Edwards, 1913, a process arising from the 
spiracular rim that is similar in form to the 
twisted hair 13-S in larvae of sections Al and 
hi in the Solomons. Both of these characters 
are restricted to Uranotaenia and may prove 
to be of value in subdividing the genus. 
Biology 
The majority of species of Uranotaenia 
whose immature stages are known utilize 
319 
ground waters for breeding, being found in 
swamps, marshes, and streams as well as in 
temporary pools. The individual species or 
groups vary greatly in their requirements for 
light, oxygen, and protective cover. As far as 
known, all species utilizing such habitats for 
breeding lay their eggs in rafts which are 
superficially similar to those of Culex and 
Mansonia. The larvae of these species rest 
parallel to the surface film and immediately 
below it because of the shortness of the siphon 
and the angle it forms with the abdomen. 
They spend most of their time near the sur- 
face, apparently feeding just below the sur- 
face film. Certain species are easily mistaken 
■ for the younger stages of anophelines, partic- 
ularly as they are often present in association 
with them. The jerky movements of these 
larvae are also suggestive of anophelines. All 
the species in the Solomons except U. wy- 
sockii and U. quadrimaculata belong to this 
group. I have collected egg rafts of these 
forms but have not reared them. 
A number of species have been reported 
from specialized ground waters such as rock 
holes. It appears that some of these forms are 
morphologically distinct from the above- 
mentioned group and may lay eggs singly 
in some cases. U. stonei Bohart and Ingram, 
1946, from Okinawa has a very peculiar larva 
with unusual behavior and resting position 
but apparently in the adult stage shows re- 
semblance to section Al in the shape of the 
ninth tergite of the male. On the other hand, 
less specialized forms, such as the atra-groxv^ 
which utilize crab holes for breeding, retain 
their similarity to ordinary ground-pool 
breeders. 
Several species are restricted to breeding in 
water collections in living plants such as spe- 
cies of Bandanus, Nepenthes, Colocasia, Alocasia, 
Curcuma, etc. It is apparent that members of 
more than one section of the genus utilize 
this type of habitat. In the Solomons U. wy- 
sockii belongs to this ecological group. I have 
never found mosquito egg rafts in water col- 
lections in living plants and consider it likely 
