A REVISION OF THE GENUS LEPTOCONOPS, SKUSE. 13 



to know exactly what value to place upon the differences observed. The antennal 

 structure, however, differs so strikingly that I believe specific separation to be 

 warranted ; especially since no tendency to intermediate characters occurred in the 

 small series of specimens obtained, and no obvious variation has been seen in the 

 antennal structure of species of which numerous examples have been examined. 



The antennae (fig. 5, c) are very distinctly shorter than in the preceding species, 

 and the intermediate segments of the flagellum (4 to 13) are subspherical, being from 

 1-0 to M times as long as broad ; the terminal segment is almost three and one-half 

 times as long as broad, and is equal in length to the preceding two and one-half 

 segments together. Minor differences appear to exist in regard to the venation 

 {cf. fig. 8, b and c), and the dark grey poUinosity of the head and thorax ; but, as 

 indicated above, the appearance of the latter may be that normally found in 

 /-• longicornis. 



The two females (cotypes) of this species are in the British Museum Collection. 



The three Australian representatives of Leptoconops (L. sivgius, L. longicornis and 

 L. grandis) at present known are closely related, and as a group are characterised by 

 the relatively narrow space separating the eyes, the structure of the palpi {i.e. in 

 regard to the relative lengths of the third and fourth segments), and the absence of 

 spines on the first and second tarsal segments. 



Leptoconops braziliensis, Lutz. 



Tersesthes braziliensis, Lutz, Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, v, p. 66 (1913). 



The description of this species given below is drawn up from that published by 

 Dr. Lutz, and from microscopical preparations kindly lent me by him. 



?. — Length of body (two specimens), LS mm. ; length of wing, 0-8 mm. ; length 

 of antennae, 0'32 mm. ; width of head, 0-23 mm. 



Head dark brown ; clypeus with a few short, dark hairs. Proboscis and palpi 

 dark brown ; the latter with the third segment moderately swollen and the orifice of 

 the sensory pit large and oval, the fourth segment subcylindrical, almost equal in 

 length to the third. Antennae dark brown, with dark hairs and short, slightly curved, 

 clear spines ; fourth to thirteenth segments transversely oval, from 0-6 to 08 as long 

 as broad ; thirteenth segment somewhat pointed distally, two and one-half times as 

 long as broad, almost equal in length to the preceding four segments together. Thorax 

 dark brown, clothed with short hairs ; pleurae and pectus rather paler in colour than 

 the dorsum. Wings white, the basal part of the costa waxen yellow-brown, the costa 

 extending to the middle of the anterior border ; anterior veins arranged as in fig. 8, g, 

 the fifth vein bifurcating before the extremities of the third vein and costa. Halteres 

 with pale knobs and brown stems. Legs brown, the tarsi paler ; metatarsi of the 

 four anterior legs (fig. 4, g) with several pairs of distinct spines, of the hind legs with 

 short stout bristles, but with spines only at the apex (distal pair) ; second tarsal 

 segments of all the legs with a pair of spines at the apex. Claws simple and equal, 

 each with a bristle arising from the base. Abdomen dark brown dorsally, the fore and 

 hind margins of the tergites narrowly paler ; venter pale brown. Lamellae waxen 

 brown, darker at the extreme base, relatively long, 0-33 the length of the wing. 

 Spermathecae two, strongly chitinised, oval (33/* x 24/*). 



Habitat. Brazil : lower reaches of the Rio Tocantin. 



According to Lutz this species sucks blood and often attacks man. It ma}- be 

 readily distinguished from other species of Leptoconops {sens, sir.) which possess 

 simple claws by the unusually long lamellae. 



