55 



mens from tJieir being someiohat mutilated in process of examination. The 

 name of the donor of any plant or specimen is always recorded in our boohs, 

 <md any particulars conveying information, which they may send, is always, 

 attached to the specimen when filed in the Herbarium. 



All information is always afforded to local correspondents at once 

 by letter with respect to the name, culture or manufacture of 

 economic plants, and the department is always glad to receive specimens 

 of any plants— the name of which are unknown to the collector. In 

 fact we have good reason for complaint that in this respect little 

 interest is taken by residents in the truly Botanical work of our 

 establishment. 



127.-CIRCULAR NOTES. 



Circular Note No. 17, 



Determination of the "Mosquito "Worm." 



On the third of December, 1S94, I issued a note on the life-history of a 

 specimen popularly known as the "Mosquito Worm" occurring in a native 

 Rodent, stated to be Loncheres guianoi, Thos. A further study of this animal 

 shows that it would probably be more correctly identified with Messrs. Allen and 

 Chapman's new species, Loncheres cadanea. 



The imago of the "Mosquito Worm" was sent home for determination and 

 has proved of considerable interest. 



It belongs to the family (Estrida^, to the genus Cuterehra, and has been 

 determined, either the Guterebra Atrox of Clarke, or a new species. Our species 

 proved to be unrepresented in the British Museum collection, so that it has had 

 to be provisionally worked out by the aid of literature alone. 



A larva which was sent home with the first specimen taken by Dr. Lota 

 from the knee of a young gentlemen was found to belong also to the (Esfridce but 

 to the genus Dermatohia, and is stated to be in the second of the three stages 

 through which ffistridie larva pass before pupation. 



It is reported probable that several species of Dermaiobia attack man, but 

 only two have been described up to the present time, from perfect insects, while 

 of these only one was bred from the larva, and that was taken from a cow. 



It is reported also that the larva sent is of the form known in Cayenne 

 as the " Ver Macaque." 



Another dipterous insect sent at the same time, in general appearance 

 similar to the imago of Cuterehra, inoved to be Aranthomera lahanina Thunherg. 

 Family Acant homer ida, but belongs to the order Brachyctra, as does the (Estridce. 



A curious fact in connection with the identification of Diptera is, that in the 

 majority of kinds the sexes may readily be distinguished by the fact that the 

 eyes of tlie male nearly meet upon the forehead, while those in the female are 

 widely separated. 



J. H. HART, F.L.S. 



February, 27th, 1895. 



