276 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER XI 



14. MEGARHINA AMBOINENSIS, Doleschall. 



(Nat. Tijdschr. v. Ned. Indie, xiv, p. 381). 



Caudal adornment showing no contrasted colours. Tarsi 

 with the uppermost joint of the hind tai'si white. Thorax dark 

 green, with glittering golden hairs, and a tuft of long bristles at 

 the origin of the whigs. 



From original description : — 



Head blackish green ; the antenmri black ; those of the $ densely 

 pluined up to the last joint ; palpi and proboscis steel-blue, the former 

 white between the second and third joints, and a little hairy ; pleurae 

 white. Abdomen compressed, steel-blue, with long densely packed 

 darker blue hairs on both sides of the three last segments. Wings 

 longer than abdomen, yellowish with yellow-brown veins. The legs long 

 and thin, almost hairless, blackish-blue. Length. — i\ lines (Dutch). 



Habitat. — Amboina, during the dry season, in the bush ; not un- 

 common. 



15. MEGARHINA TRICHOPYGUS, (Wied.). 

 (Culex triclwpygus, Wied., "A. Z. I.," p. 4). 



The date of the description is antecedent to the establishment 

 of the genus Megarhina, but the large size of the insect, its 

 brilhant metallic coloration, the broadening of the hinder ab- 

 dominal segments by tufts of hairs, and the subulate terminal 

 joint of the palpi, make it pretty certain that the species belongs 

 to this genus. 



Caudal tufts showing no contrasted colours. Tarsi with 

 certain bands or joints whitish ? Thorax black with greenish- 

 golden scales and the abdomen brown. 



Original description : — 



Antennse brown ; palpi yellowish, opalescing blue, with brassy scales 

 below, the end joint subulate deep steel-blue ; proboscis blue-black, 

 tapering very much ; head and thorax black with greenisli-gold and blue 

 scales ; pleurae and coxse brown, with sdvery scales. Abdomen'polished, 

 brownish, witli light steel-blue scales ; belly with silvery and steel-blue 

 scales ; the ante-penultimate segment broader, fringed on either side ; 

 the penultimate and last segments progressively' smaller, and also fringed 

 with brownish-black cilia, which show violet-blue in certain liglits. Legs 

 yellowish-brown, with steel-blue, with silvery scales below. (Middle legs 

 wanting in specimen described.) Length. — '6h to 4^ lines (German). 



Habitat. — Brazd. 



