NOTES ON CULICIDAE. "iOO 



Subgenus Stegomyia, Theo. 

 Stegomyia variegata, Del. (tig. 5 a). 



Cukx variegatus, Doleschall, Nat. Tijd. Ned. Ind. xvii, p. 77 (1858), 



Culex scutelhris, AValker, Pioc. Linn. Soc., London, iii, p. 77 (1859). 



Cidex zonatipes, AValker, Proc. Linn. Soc, London, v, p. 229 (1861). 



Stegomyia pseudoscutellaris, Theobald, Entomologist, xliii, p. 156 (1910). 



A careful re-examination of the types of Walker's C. zonatipes and C. scutellaris 

 shows that Theobald was mistaken in referring the former to S. fasciata, F., and in 

 identifying the latter with the common Oriental species. Both are in fact un- 

 questionably the same as the species Theobald subsequently described as S. p)sevdo- 

 scutellaris. The oldest of these names is scutellaris, and if this name were to be used 

 to replace pseudoscutellaris endless confusion would be caused, but fortunately it 

 seems practically certain that Doleschall's C. variegatus, described a year earlier than 

 scutellaris, is also the same species, since he refers to the white line round the margin 

 of the thorax. The name Culex variegatus had been used for two different species 

 by Schrank and Blanchard before it was employed by Doleschall, but although neither 

 of these species can be recognised, it is quite clear that neither of them belong to 

 Stegomyia. As I have adopted the principle that a homonym can be revived when 

 transferred to a fresh genus, provided it is not pre-occupied there also, I propose to 

 use the name *S. variegata (Dol.) for this species. This may not be strictly in accord- 

 ance with the letter of the rules regulating zoological nomenclature, but it appears to 

 me to be reasonable, and is moreover in line with the view taken by several leading 

 entomologists. 



S. variegata was recorded by Doleschall from Amboyna, and by Walker from Aru 

 and New Guinea ; specimens have been received at the British Museum from Fiji, 

 Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Christmas Island (S. of Java) ; Taylor has also 

 recorded it from Samarai I. (Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., xxxix, p. 456). Apart therefore 

 fiom its occurrence at Christmas Island, where it was found in large numbers by 

 Dr. C. W. Andrews, S. variegata seems to be a purely Australasian species ; it is 

 surprising that it does not appear to have been found on the continent of Australia. 

 The genitalia (fig. 5 a), especially as regards their basal parts, are very different from 

 those of S. albopicta (fig. 5 b). 



Stegomyia albopicta, Skuse (fig. 5 6). 



Culex alhopictus, Skuse, Indian Mus. Notes, iii, no, 5, p. 20 (1895). 



Stegomyia scutellaris, Theobald, Mon. Cul. i, p. 298 (1901). 



Stegomyia scutellaris var. samarensis, LudloAv, Jl. N.Y. Ent. Soc. (1903), 



Stegomyia samarensis, Ludlow, Psyche, xviii, p. 127 (1911). 



The common Oriental species at present known as S. scutellaris must in future be 

 called *S. albopicta, since this appears to be the oldest available name. Apparently 

 it is not absolutely confined to the Oriental region, as Taylor has recorded it from 

 Papua (Trans, Ent, Soc, London, 1914, p. 189) and N, Australia (Proc, Linn. Soc 

 N,S.W., xxxix, p. 155), Except for a specimen from Honolulu, however, there are 

 no Australasian specimens in the British Museum. 



