II. THE INDIAN vSPECIRS OF PAPATACI 

 F 1. Y {P H LE BOTOM U S). 



Bv N. Annandalr, D.Sc, Siipcrintoidoil, Indian Museum. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The importance of the genus Phlebotomus from a medical 

 point of view has recently been demonstrated by Grassi and others 

 so far as southern Europe is concerned, and there can be little 

 doubt that in India too fevers of a certain type are carried by these 

 flies, which, in common with several others, are commonly known 

 as " sand-flies " in this country. The descriptions of the species 

 described below are based on specimens in the collection of the 

 Indian Museum, some of which have been sent me by Mr. F. M. 

 Howlett, Second Imperial Zoologist ; but I have been able to 

 examine all the species except P. papatasi in a living condition. 

 The types of all the species except P. papatasi and P. pertiirhans 

 are preserved in the Indian Museum. My thanks are due to 

 Mr. E. Brunetti for much assistance. 



The study of the material at my disposal has convinced me 

 of the necessity of not relying solely on pinned specimens in 

 examining minute and delicate insects such as Phlebotomus. Not 

 only do certain structures .shrivel and become distorted when 

 dried, but it is impossible to make out the exact arrangement of 

 others without proper examination under a high power of the 

 microscope. vSo delicate, for example, is the venation of the wing 

 of some species of Phlebotomus that its details cannot be seen unless 

 the wing is dealt with in the manner in which any similar organ 

 "belonging to any animal but an insect would be dealt with, that is 

 to say, unless it is mounted on a glass slide under a cover- slip in a 

 suitable medium, after having been artificially stained. Pinned 

 specimens even of Phlebotomus are valuable, as sliowing the natural 

 colour and appearance of the insect ; but specimens preserved in 

 spirit are much more valuable, as enabling structural characters 

 to be investigated with greater ease and surety. 



As Mr. Howlett is working at the habits of the Indian 

 Phlebotomi,^ I need only say that specimens are to be found in 

 the corners of bathrooms during the day and round the lani]) at 

 night ; but a few hints as to their collection and preservation 



I For full detail.s regarding one Indian .species {viz., P. papatasi) see Gras.si s 

 " Ricerehe .sui Flebotomi " in the memoirs of the Italian vSociety of Science (1907) 

 and also Doerr, Fran/. an<l Tau.ssig's Das Pappatacifiebcr (Leipzig and Vienna, 

 1909). 



