296 F. W. EDWARDS. 



simple claspers which are provided with a terminal spine ; side-pieces with well- 

 developed basal lobes and more or less distinct apical lobes ; distinct claspettes 

 always present, terminating in a more or less flattened appendage ; aedoeagus 

 simple, the mesosome never divided into two halves. Female cerci always well- 

 developed and long, the eighth segment small, rarely visible at all externally. All 

 the claws of the female toothed (normally). 



Larva. Antennae with a well marked hair-tuft and minute spicules on the 

 surface. Frontal hairs generally simple or only slightly branched, the anterior pair 

 immediately in front of the lower. Abdomen without well-marked stellate tufts ; 

 the scales of the comb of the eighth segment in a triangular patch. 



This subgenus includes the great majority of the Palaearctic and Nearctic species 

 of Aedes, and attains its maximum development in the north temperate parts of 

 these regions ; it is almost or quite unrepresented in the Ethiopian and Oriental 

 regions, but appears again with numerous representatives in southern Australia, 

 and one or two in New Zealand. Many species also occur in the Neotropical 

 region, and it is possible therefore that Australia was colonised by way of South 

 America, especially as some of the South American, New Zealand and Australian 

 species show rather marked affinities. We may perhaps assume from this that the 

 subgenus is an old-established one. 



The Palaearctic species are divisible (as adults) into three groups according to 

 the markings of the tarsi. The first two of these groups appear to be natural 

 assemblages of species, but the third, with dark tarsi, is less natural and shows more 

 structural diversity. These groups may be known as the dorsalh-grow^, the anmdipes- 

 group and the commmw's-group ; as mentioned below, A. punctor, though placed 

 on account of coloration in the communis-group, shows signs of affinity with the 

 dorsalis-group. while other members of the commums-group (such as A. communis 

 itself) are probably more nearly related to the annulipes-gronp. The structure of 

 the male hypopygium shows the isolated position of A. rusticus and A. lepidonotus, 

 but suggests an affinity between A. pullatus and the peculiar A. diantaeus. 



Adults. 



1. Tarsi with pale rings embracing both ends of the joints, the last hind 



tarsal joint entirely pale {dorsalis-gxowp) [compare also F inlay a togoi] . . 2 

 Tarsi with pale rings at the bases of the joints only (annulipes-group) 



[compare also subgenera Ecculex and Stegomyia, and Finlaya japonica] 7 

 Tarsi without pale rings {communis-group) [compare also subgenera Aedes 



and Finlaya] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 



2. Abdomen with a pale median dorsal stripe in addition to transverse 



bands ; sometimes entirely pale . . . , . . . , . , . . 3 



Abdomen with whitish bands at the bases of the segments only . . . . 4 



3. Mesonotal scales generally fawn-coloured, with two narrow white bands 



running the whole length ; dark and light wing-scales evenly mixed 



caspius. Fall. 

 Mesonotal scales generally duller brown, with two broad, creamy bands in 

 front ; dark scales aggregated on certain veins . . . . dorsalis, Mg. 



4. Wings and legs densely speckled with pale scales ; tarsi brown with creamy 



rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 



Wings and legs only very slightly speckled ; tarsi black with white rings . . 6 



5. Mesonotal scales uniformly brown or fawn-coloured . . . . mariae, Serg. 

 Mesonotum with two longitudinal bands of white scales . . zammittii, Theo. 



6. Mesonotal scales bronzy ochreous, not forming distinct markings 



pulchritarsis, Rond. 

 Mesonotum with whitish median stripe . . . . pulchritarsis, Rond., var. 



