Vol. XXl] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 259 



The Genus Mansonia. 



BY HARRISON G. DYAR and FREDERICK KNAB. 



Those who have followed the literature on the Culiciclae 

 have doubtless been surprised that we have referred the com- 

 mon Cnlc.v pcrtnrbans of Walker to the genus Mansonia. Our 

 conclusion was based essentially on the structure of the male 

 genitalia of [>crturbans as compared with those of the type 

 species of the genus Mansonia, Culex titillans Walker. The 

 male genitalia of these two forms agree very closely, and 

 show a most peculiar character, the thick chitinous rod insert- 

 ed upon the side piece. Felt has figured three forms with 

 this structure*' Cufc.v pcrtitrbans Walker, Tacniorhynchus 

 brcriccUulns Theobald and T. ait rites Theobald, and has based 

 his definition of the genus Tacniorhynchus upon it. In short 

 the genera Mansonia and Taeniorhynchus (if we exclude the 

 incongruous elements), in spite of the diversity in the form 

 of the wing-scales, are identical. 



We are aware that the structure of the genitalia alone 

 might appear unconvincing to the uninitiated, and we are grat- 

 ified to find our views confirmed by the recent discovery of 

 the larva of Mansonia titillans by Mr. H. W. B. Moore, of 

 Demerara, British Guiana. The early stages of Mansonia 

 pcrturbans are now familiar through the writings of Dyar and 

 Currief and Smith and Grossbeck.ij: In an earlier work, Go- 

 eldi made known the young larva of Tacniorhynchus fascio- 

 latus Arrib. and T. arribalsagae Theob., and it is clear from 

 his figures that they are in every respect like the larva of our 

 Mansonia pcrturbans. The larva of Mansonia titillans now 

 Goeldi, iv, 1 06, pi. G, 1905. 



proves in every essential the same, both as regards structure 

 and habits. In "The Daily Argosy" of Demerara, January 27 

 and February 3, 1010. Mr. Moore speaks of this mosquito 

 and his discovery of the larva as follows : 



* Bull. ')7. X. Y. Striu- Mus., 487. pi. 15, fig. 2, PI. 16 ff r, 2, 1905. 



f Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vi, 2icS, 1904. 



J Ent. News, xix, 22, 473, rooS. 



|| Os mosq. no Para, Boll. Para Mus. 27, 1902, and Mem. Mus. 



