A Larvascope for Use in Identification of living Culicine Larvae

Extract

A lateral view of the terminal segments is essential for the identification of a Culicine larva, but owing to the necessity of the larva to pierce the surface film of the water with the spiracular valves at the distal end of the respiratory siphon, it will retain a position with the dorsal surface uppermost in spite of all efforts to induce it to do otherwise. Even if placed in water so shallow that there is insufficient space between the bottom of the container and the surface of the water for the siphon to be held erect, the insect will incline its siphon but keep the rest of the abdomen dorsum uppermost, thus possibly presenting a lateral view of the siphon, and showing the pecten, but the comb and anal segments will still not be in a suitable position for a detailed study of the characters to be made