26 The Mosquitoes or Culicidae of Jamaica. 



12. CULEX TORTILIS. Theobald. 



(The Acrobat Mosquito.) 

 (The Entomologist, Nov., p. 281, 1903.) 



General appearance. Head golden scaled ; proboscis un- 

 banded, deep brown. Palpi deep brown. Thorax deep brown, 

 the middle clothed with narrow-curved golden scales, on each 

 side in front a roundish deep brown patch, the posterior part 

 with darker scales than the front region, being almost brown, 

 but not so dark as the front lateral areas ; pleurae pale brown, 

 with spots of grey scales. Abdomen black in some lights, rich 

 deep brown to dull violet in others, first segment with dusky 

 scales forming two spots and with golden hairs ; second, third, 

 fourth and fifth segments with narrow pale yellowish basal 

 bands, not extending quite across the segments, also basal white 

 lateral spots most prominent on the apical segments. Legs deep 

 brown ; fore and mid ungues uniserrated, hind ones equal and 

 simple. 



Length. 4 to 4 * 5 mm. 



Geographical distribution. Jamaica (at Kingston). 



Life-history and habits. The life-history is so far unknown. 

 When alive they carry their hind legs twisted right forward over 

 their head when settled after the manner of Wyeomyias. They 

 are distinct thick-set mosquitoes easily told by the thoracic 

 ornamentation. There is considerable variation in the venation 

 of the wings and in the amount of abdominal banding. The 

 male is unknown. 



13. CULEX SIMILIS. Theobald. 

 (Mono. Culicid. III., p. 207, 1903.) 



General appearance. Thorax reddish-brown, with very minute 

 dull golden-brown and a few black scales, and three double rows 

 of black bristles ; pleurae pale ochraceous, metanotum nude. 

 Abdomen deep brown, with narrow pale basal bands, which on 

 the last three segments spread out laterally. Legs deep brown, 

 unbanded, coxae and venter of femora pale ; ungues small, equal 

 and simple. Wings with typical Culex scales, stem of first sub- 

 marginal nearly half the length of the cell. 



Length. 5 mm. 



