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a handbook of the mosquitoes of north america - Systematic Catalog ...

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204 MOSQVITOES OF NORTH AMERICA<br />

Larva. “Head rounded; antennae moderate, with a tuft at basal<br />

third, narrowed beyond ; head-hairs multiple, <strong>the</strong> anteantennal tuft<br />

shorter. Abdomen with small dorsal chitinous plate on sixth segment,<br />

a large one on seventh and a transverse plate on <strong>the</strong> eighth, excavated<br />

for <strong>the</strong> air-tube; lateral comb a double row <strong>of</strong> long bars. Air-tube<br />

about three and a half times as long as wide, slightly tapered, a large<br />

tuft before <strong>the</strong> middle. Anal segment about as long as wide, ringed<br />

by <strong>the</strong> plate, ventral brush posterior; dorsal tuft a long hair and brush<br />

on each side; a single lateral hair. Anal gills as long as <strong>the</strong> segment,<br />

tapered.” (Dyar, 1928.)<br />

This species occurs in <strong>the</strong> eastern United States from Massa-<br />

chusetts to Texas. It can be found resting on trees, in <strong>the</strong><br />

holes <strong>of</strong> which it breeds.<br />

M~$&&w Robineau-Desvoidy, M6m. Sot. d’Hist. Nat., 3, . r<br />

403. 1827.<br />

Tox.orhync&tes Theobald, Mon. Culic., 1, 244. 1901.<br />

A&$orhy~2clz,~s Lutz in Bourroul, Mosq. do Brazil, 53. 1904.<br />

Worcesteria Banks, Phil. Jour. Sci., 1, 779. 1906.<br />

This genus contains mostly tropical species which are bril-<br />

liantly colored. The proboscis is remarkably curved and not<br />

fitted for sucking blood. The adults feed on nectar obtained<br />

from flowers and <strong>the</strong> juices <strong>of</strong> plants. They fly during <strong>the</strong><br />

day. Their larvae are very large, predacious, and are found<br />

in tree holes, occasionally in water barrels and o<strong>the</strong>r artificial<br />

water containers. There are only two species known from<br />

North America. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, f%!. rzkt&s Coq., occurs in Flor-<br />

ida but nothing is known <strong>of</strong> its life-history or habits.<br />

MEW INUSSEPTENTRIONALIS Dyar and Knab<br />

iVeghariau.s septentrionalis Dyar and Knab. Jour. N.Y. Ent.<br />

sot., 15, 12. 1907.<br />

Meghaaifzz6.s herricki Theobald, Mon. Culic. 4, 131. 1907.<br />

Female. Length<br />

4+<br />

7-d’mrn. ; wing ‘6, mm. Proboscis very long,<br />

sharply curved beyond <strong>the</strong> middle, black with violet reflections. Palpi<br />

about half as long as proboscis, distinctly segmented, black with blue

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