384 ON ATS oil MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER XIII 



The small, but well-defined genus, Janthinosoma, resembles 

 the Megarhinina in many respects, having the same fine metallic 

 lustre, and the same may be said to some extent of Armigeres, 

 which is certainly very closely allied to Janthinosoma, having the 

 same long male palps and the same tendency to ornamentation of 

 the venter, while the terga of the abdominal segments are quite 

 dark. PsoropJiora and Mucidtis form a very natural group of 

 shaggy insects that look more like flies than gnats to a casual 

 glance. 



All these aberrant genera that are thus more or less inter- 

 mediate between the type genera are characterised by possessing 

 shaggy legs, and in uninjured males, Eretmajwdites, the scales 

 covering them are enormously elongated to form flat, paddle- 

 shaped expansions. 



Most of these aberrant Mosquitoes are forest insects, and these 

 peculiar structures probably give them some sort of protective 

 resemblance to parts of the plants and flowers frequented by 

 them ; but this is a mere guess, as we know as yet very little 

 of the habits and life history of these forms. 



The genera Stegomyia and Armigeres form another very well 

 defined group, characterised by the smooth curved line of their 

 heads, and a strong tendency to elaborate decoration of the 

 mesonotum witb white lines on a jet-black ground. PanojiUtes 

 and Tceniorhynchus again are closely allied, while Deinokerides 

 may or may not be one of the Aedoviina, as no males have yet 

 come to hand. 



Owing to the separation of new genera, and the consequent 

 modification of the definitions of those already established, the 

 definitions of all are somewhat changed from those quoted in 

 the first edition of this handbook, and as it would occupy much 

 space to enter into any critical disquisition on the newer as 

 contrasted with the older landmarks, it will be understood that 

 those given below follow entirely the classification adopted by 

 Mr. Theobald in the British Museum monograph which is 

 concurrently passing through the press. This tabulation of the 

 genera of the sub- family runs as follows : — 



y. Palpi short in $ , long in <? ; 1st sub -marginal cell as 



long or longer than the 2nd posterior cell 



sub-family Colicina 

 77. Legs more or less densely scaled. 



Posterior cross-vein nearer the base than the mid 

 cross-vein ; hind legs with tar.si in ^ densely 

 long scaled ; wing scales long and rather thick 



Genus V. Eretmapodites 



