46 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM VOL. 120 
During this study the male terminalia of 227 specimens belonging 
to the coronator complex were critically examined and assigned to the 
various named taxa on the basis of morphological criteria. The areas 
from which these specimens were collected are delineated in figure 11a. 
Results of these studies are tabulated in table 3, and probable distribu- 
tion of each species is plotted on figures 116-f. 
Consideration of the morphological differences and the geographical 
distribution of each taxon reveals that the various forms are not ran- 
domly distributed throughout the areas, but assume discrete distribu- 
tional patterns. All forms are sympatric in area [IV (Colombia), but in 
no other collection area have all forms been found. Thus, the mor- 
phological and distributional data suggest that speciation has occurred, 
and it is for this reason that the following species are here designated 
as valid: Culex coronator, C. ousqua, C. usquatus, C. camposi, and C. 
usquatissimus. On the basis of morphological similarity in the male 
terminalia C. albertot is placed in synonymy with C. ousqua, and C. 
coronator mooseri is placed in synonymy with C. coronator. C. covagar- 
ciai is described from a specimen sent to Dr. Stone by Dr. Pablo Cova 
Garcia from Venezuela. 
The evidence gleaned from the 227 specimens in no way challenges 
the hypothesis that speciation has occurred and, in fact, supports this 
hypothesis. Revalidation of the species in this complex may well 
stimulate future research in the C. coronator group that will elucidate 
true relationships and contribute to concepts of speciation applicable 
to the entire family Culicidae. Detailed descriptions of the immature 
stages of each form are necessary ; biological data for the various species 
must be obtained; hybridization experiments, such as those conducted 
in the pipiens-quinquefasciatus complex, would be invaluable; and 
cytogenetic studies would be appropriate. 
Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar and Knab, 1906 
Figures 12a, f 
Culex (Culex) coronator Dyar and Knab, 1906b, p. 215. 
Culex (Culex) coronator moosert Vargas and Martinez Palacios, 1954, p. 33. [New 
synonymy.] 
SysTEMATICcS.— The male terminalia of six specimens collected at 
the type locality in 1941 by M. Macias Gomez and determined by 
Dr. L. Vargas as C. c. moosert were sent to the author (apparently 
these specimens were part of the original type series, although they 
were not designated as such in the original description). These 
specimens were compared with a large series of C. coronator and found 
to be conspecific. 
