2(56 GNATS Oil MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER XI 



that the second joint of c? antenna has always an external lateral 

 patch of iridescent scales. The generic characters of the venation 

 of the wing, with its tiny ant. fork cell, are sufficiently indicated 

 in the subjoined figure. 



Fig. 39. — Typical Wing of Genus Megarhina. 



The following is the formal definition of the genus : — 



Desvoidy, '• Essai sur les Culicides, Mem. Soc. d'Hist. Nat. de Paris," 

 iii, 1827, p. 412 ; Macquart, " Dipt^ra Exotica," vol. i, 1838, pi. i, fig. 1. 

 (Extracted from F. A. A. Skuse. '• Proc. Linn. Soc," N.S.W., 1889, 

 p. 1720). 



Proboscis bent downwards about the middle of its length ; in the 

 male almost the loigtli of the body, in the female a little shorter. Palpi 

 in the male a little longer tlian the proboscis ; the first joint short, 

 second, third and fourth elongate and cylindrical, of equal length, except 

 the second, which is a little shorter ; in the female a little shorter than 

 the proboscis with five cylindrical joints of nearly equal length. Antennae 

 in the male with bushy plumes, the second joint a little elongate ; in 

 the female the joints elongate with a few long haii'S at the base. Pro- 

 thorax projecting from each side in the fox-m of a scale ; bordered with 

 hairs in the male, naked in the female. Abdomen : the three last seg- 

 ments bordered laterally witli hairs in the male ; the copulatory organ 

 accompanied by two appendages terminating in a point. Wings : 

 first marginal cell very small ; transverse veins very remote from the 

 pctiolated cells. 



It used to be thought that these giant mosquitoes, in spite of 

 the alarming names of certain species, were harmless, but the 

 information collected by Mr. Theobald during the past year shows 

 that this is a mistake. 



"It is erroneously supposed that they are not annoying to man and 

 animals ; several occasion severe irritation fx'om their bites. Captain 

 James, I. M.S., sends me the description of one {M. iinmisericors, Wlk.) 

 which is very troublesome in India ; another comes in a collection from 

 Mashonaland {M. lutcsccns, mihi), another M. speciosa) from Australia, 

 and others have been received from New Amsterdam amongst the col- 

 lections of mosquitoes sent to the Museum. They are, however, not of 

 much importance as mosquitoes, because they are not troublesome in 

 habitations, being entirely sylvan in habits, and thus only annoying 

 to travellers." — (Monog.) 



