Larva a medium to large plumosus-type (Length, female about 16.8 mm). Ventral tubules long with posterior pair longer (Female, Anterior about 2.8 mm, posterior about 3.2 mm). Darkened gular region and frontoclypeus (may be darker in center). Mentum with somewhat rounded teeth; trifid centre group causes centre tooth to narrow at base.
Cytology: 4 pairs of chromosomes with the thummi arm
combination AB, CD, EF, G.
Arm G closely paired except where heterozygous. Californian
populations have 2 interstitial Balbiani rings (BRs) in arm G but
some of the alternative sequences present in other areas appear to
have only one BR, because the other is inverted to a terminal
position where it is difficult to see. Nucleolus is about the
middle of arm D. Inversions known in all arms, and some populations
are quite polymorphic (Hilburn
1979).
sti A1: 1a-2g, 8-9, 13a-f, 3f-2h, 6a-3g, 12c-10, 14-17d,
6b-7, 17e-19
sti A2: 1a - 2c, 15 - 14, 10 - 12, 3g
- 6a, 2h - 3f,13f-a, 9 - 8, 2g-d, 16 - 17d, 6b - 7, 17e -
19
sti A3: approx 1a - 2c, 15 - 14, 10 - 12, 3g - 6a, 2h -
3f, 13f-a, 9 - 8, 2g-d, del 16,17a-d, 6b -
7, 17e - 19
sti A4: approx 1a - 2c, 15 - 14, 10 - 11, 3i-g, 12c-a, 4 - 6a, 2h - 3f, 13f-a, 9 - 8, 2g-d,
16 - 17d, 6b - 7, 17e - 19
sti A5: approx 1a-f, 11e - 10, 14 -
15, 2c - 1g, 12a-c, 3g - 6a, 2h - 3f, 13f-a, 9 - 8, 2g-d, 16 -
17d, 6b - 7, 17e - 19
sti B1: Puff with distal dark bands (groups 7 and 8)
near end of arm; BR in group 22, near characteristic 4 bands (24 -
26)
sti B2: Inversion of region around BR, about groups
21 - 23
sti C: Four sequences are known, only C1 and C2 common
sti D1: Only common sequence of the three known
sti D2: Inversion of distal third of arm
sti D3: Inversion of region immediately around the nucleolus
sti E1: 1 - 3e, 8 - 5, 9 - 10b, 4 - 3f, 10c - 13;
ie. as
maturus
(differs from aberratus
by In8-5)
sti E2: approx 1 - 3e, 8 - 7h, 6e -
7g, 6f - 5, 9 - 10b, 4 - 3f, 10c - 13
sti E3: approx 1 - 3e, 8 - 5, 9 - 10b, 4hg, 4a-f, 3f, 10c - 13
sti E4: approx 1 - 3e, 8 - 5, 9 - 10b, 4 - 3f, 10c -
12b, 13f - 12c, 13g
sti E5: approx 1 - 3e, 8 - 5c, 13a -
10c, 3f - 4, 10b - 9, 5ab, 13b-g
sti E6: approx 1 - 3e, 8 - 6f, 4a-h,
10b - 9, 5 - 6e, 3f, 10c - 13
sti F1: 1a - 10d, 17d - 16a, 11 - 15, 18a - 23f
ie. derived from
aberratus
by In11-5
sti F2: 1 - 4, 6a - 5, 6b -
10, 17 - 16, 11 - 15, 18 - 23
sti F3: 1 - 4, ?-?, 6b - 10, 17, 14h
- 11, 16d-a,15a-i, 18 - 23 (could be 1 - 10 or 1
- 4, 6a - 5,
6b - 10)
sti F4: approx 1 - 8b, 14d - 11, 16 -
17, 10 - 8c, 14e - 15, 18 - 23
sti F5: approx 1 - 10, 17 - 16, 11a-c, 11i-d, 15, 18 - 23
sti F6: approx 1 - 5, 7a - 6a,
6b - 10, 17 - 16, 11a - 15i, 18 - 23
sti F7: approx 1 - 10, 17 - 16, 11a - 15i, 18 - 20g ,
22d - 20h, 22e - 23
sti G1: Two BRs, one near each end of arm
sti G2: Inversion of two thirds of the arm; takes one BR
to terminal position
sti G3: Inversion of the region around the other BR of G1
sti G4: Inversion of slightly more proximal region than
in G3, but in G2
sti G5: Inversion of about half the arm from G1
sti G6: Small inversion sharing distal break of G4 and
within the region of the G4 inversion
sti G7: Duplication of small proximal region of G2
sti G8: Small inversion of G1, proximal to, and sharing
proximal breakpoint of, G2
Click here for the polytene chromosomes.
Found: Numerous populations in:
Arizona -
Tucson, Pima Co.; Douglas (Townes, 1945)
California -
Hayward, Alameida Co.; Napa, & 1 mile s. Napa, Napa Co.;
Riverside, Riverside Co.; Dolwig Lake, Vallejo, Solano Co.; Davis,
Vacaville, Cutler, Oildale, Ontario, Cerritos, Palm Springs, Blythe
(all Hilburn 1979)
Florida - Lake
Miccosukee (Alberta Lake), Leon Co.; Biscayne Bay and Ft.
Lauderdale, Miami-Dade Co.; Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte Co.;
Jacksonville, Duval Co.; Lake Worth and West Palm Beach, Palm Beach
Co. (all Townes, 1945)
Louisiana -
Many, Sabine Co.
Nebraska - Oak
Creek at Lincoln (Townes 1945)
New Mexico - 4
ml S. Portales, Roosevelt Co.; Santa Rosa, Guadalupe Co.; Roswell
& Torrence Co. (Townes 1945); Lordsburg, 74. km w Quincey,
Alamogordo (all Hilburn 1979)
New York -
Worlds fair Grounds, Flushing (Townes 1945)
Ohio - Summit
Co. (Townes 1945)
Pennsylvannia -
Type specimen
South Dakota -
(from P.L. Hudson?)
Texas -
Brackenridge Expltl Station, Austin, Travis Co.; Galveston & San
Antonio (Townes 1945); Broncho, Fredericksburg, Van Horn, Davis
Mountains, Marathon, Lubbock, Petersburg, Bronte, Junction,
Nacogdoches (all Hilburn 1979)
Mexico -
Tlahualilo (Townes 1945)
Often in sewage oxidation ponds, windmill tanks, etc.
Morphological description by Sublette and Sublette (1983). They note that the pupa has distinctive rugose stripes on the abdominal tergites. Cytology described by Martin and Wülker (1974). The work of Hilburn (1979, 1980) suggests the Californian populations are a distinct species from those in Texas and New Mexico. This was species 11 of Wülker.