Culicinae. 23 



upright forked scales projecting out laterally. Thorax deep 

 brown, covered with pale golden-brown scales with two 

 prominent bare lines on the middle in front slightly expanding 

 anteriorly. Abdomen almost black, with traces of white basal 

 banding. Legs deep brown, the anterior and middle unbanded, the 

 posterior with apical and basal banding ; ungues of the 9 small, 

 equal and simple, proboscis with a narrow pale band on the 

 apical half in the $ , not in the 9 There is also faint apical 

 banding to the fore and mid legs, hind as in the 9 > f re an d 

 mid ungues unequal, the larger uniserrated ; hind ones equal and 

 simple. 



Length. 4 to 4 5 mm. 



Geographical distribution. So far only recorded from Jamaica. 

 It is an inland species, and is recorded from Cinchona and Mavis 

 Bank, between 3,500 and 5,000 feet altitude; a few stray speci- 

 mens have been taken by Dr. Grabham in the Red Hills and in 

 Kingston. 



Life-history and habits. This inland species appears in great 

 numbers at certain times, especially after heavy autumnal rains. 

 Great numbers bred in the pools at the foot of the Red Hills 

 near Kingston in the autumn of 1899. The adults have a slow 

 .and clumsy flight, and appear in clouds following one about. 

 The following is Dr. Grabham's description of the adult larva : 



" Respiratory siphon many times longer than broad ; double 

 row of pecten consisting of twelve, four to five toothed spines, six 

 to eight small hair-tufts at the upper posterior aspect of the tube. 



" Lateral comb of simple short spines forty to sixty in number, 

 arranged in a triangular patch ; a large nine-branched tufted 

 hair at the foot of the siphon behind. Chitinous collar completely 

 encircling the ninth segment, saddle shaped; ventral tufts of 

 hairs spring from a narrow prolongation backwards of the collar. 

 Anal papillae three-fourths the length of longest ventral hairs, 

 lanceolate, blunt at free ends. Dorsal tuft of six hairs, two of 

 great length. Thoracic hairs plumose. Lower lip shown in figure. 

 Lateral antennal tuft of numerous hairs at the junction of upper 

 and lower thirds." 



Economic importance. This Culex is a persistent and vicious 

 biter, and follows one about in dense clouds. It bites during 

 the day and causes painful swellings. 



