Carter (H. F.), Ingram (A.) & .Macfti-: (J. W. S.). Observations on 

 the Ceratopogonine Midges of the Gold Coast with Descriptions 

 of New Species. - .1;;;;. 7>o/>. Med. & Payasil., IJvcrpnol, \W, 

 no. 2, 27th November 1920, ])}). 187-274, 27 ligs., 5 plates. 



Small biting midges, colloquialh' called " sand-flies," are abundant 

 in the Gold Coast, and in many parts of the country are very trouble- 

 some. The first part of this paper describes observations on them 

 carried on from December 1919 to May 1920. In the second part, an 

 account, to be continued in subsequent papers, is given of the species 

 obtained, particularly those referable to the genera Culicoides, 

 Dasyhdea and Forcipomyia. 



The methods of collecting, preserving and examining specimens arc 

 described in detail. The midges are higlil}- phototropic, as are also the 

 larvae to a certain extent. The adults collect in large numbers on the 

 inside of windows at dusk, where they are frequently attacked by 

 predaceous insects and small lizards. Of the former, a small Empid, 

 Elaphropeza sp., was observed to carry off a Culicoides, and also preys 

 upon Forcipomyia ingrami, Cart., and other species of this genus. 

 x\t the same time examples of Phlebotomus (probably P. minutus var. 

 africaniis) were repeatedly seen, engorged with blood, clinging 

 tenaciously to the lizards. The authors, who spent a considerable 

 time collecting on these occasions, were never conscious of being 

 bitten by any insects other than mosquitos, but it may be mentioned 

 that the one who made most of the collections suffered from nine 

 separate short attacks (one to seven days) of fever during the period, 

 and that on none of these occasions were malaria parasites found in 

 his blood. 



The breeding places of these midges are indicated under the \'arious 

 species. Large numbers often emerge from small quantities of material. 

 The larvae of Culicoides are very active ; they normally develop in 

 water, but appear to be capable of surviving for several days in moist 

 situations where no water is present. The duration of the larval stage 

 is probably largely influenced by the food-supply, and may certainly 

 extend over several weeks. The pupae float on the surface, and are 

 rather sluggish, though more active than those of Forcipomyia ingrami 

 [R.A.E., B, vii, 81]. They are easily killed, and cannot sur\-ive 

 submergence for any length of time, but will live out of the water, if 

 they are kept moist and can get air. The pupal staga lasts three to 

 five days [see also R.A.E., B, viii, 212]. 



In the case of Dasyhelea, the larvae, though requiring moisture for 

 their development, are not truly aquatic, and are unable to sur\-i\'c 

 submersion in water. Their natural habitat appears to be the interstices 

 between the fibres of vegetable matter, preferably when rotting. They 

 are relatively sluggish, and when placed in water, crawl about labori- 

 ously at the bottom. They crawl rather more rapidly over solid 

 materials such as banana fibre, and quickly bury themselves in them. 

 They were never found on the surface of the materials they lived in. 

 They can climb a few inches up the sides of a glass jar. The duration 

 of the larval stage appeared to be long (several weeks), and is probably 

 largeh'- dependent on food-supply and temperature. Pupation takes 

 place close to the surface of the material in which the larvae developed, 

 the respiratory siphons and a little of the cephalo-thorax only protruding. 

 The pupae are very sluggish, and do not survive long in water. The 

 duration of the pupal stage is three or four da3's. 



The second part of this paper relates to the classification of the 

 Ceratopogoninae. Besides descriptions of the species, an account 



aT94) Wt.ri850/163 2/21 1500 Harrow (Gp. 75) D 



