SUBFAMILY DIXINAE 189 



in the multiplication of genera, is a natural one or not it is impossible 

 to say. Theobald maintains it is the best method of grouping these 

 insects, as it is simple and can be used by medical men and others in 

 determining the species in the field. It must be said, however, that 

 culicidologists themselves do not appear to be agreed as to the species 

 which belong to many of the genera. 



The separation of the Corethrinae from the Culicidae is cer- 

 tainly a retrograde step, for although it is true that the former are 

 devoid of a biting proboscis, in other respects, especially in venation, 

 they agree exactly with the Culicinae. No better parallel example could 

 be given than the Stomoxydinae, (Stomoxys, Stygeromyia, Haematobia, 

 Haematobosca, Bdellolarynx and Lyperosia) in which the proboscis is very 

 different from that of Musca, yet Stomoxys and Musca unquestionably 

 belong to the family Muscidae, the two being linked together by the 

 genus Philaematomyia. So also many of the Pangoninae, to take another 

 example, have non-biting proboscides, yet they are placed by all diptero- 

 logists in the family Tabanidae. 



According to Williston and others the Dixidae, which show many 

 culicine affinities, should be included as a subfamily of the Culicidae, 

 which is then constituted as follows : 



SYNOPSIS OF THE FAMILY CULICIDAE 



Proboscis projecting somewhat, not adapted for piercing ; 

 entire insect almost devoid of hair and scales, especially the 

 antennae in both sexes ....... 



subfamily Dixinae. 



Proboscis short, not adapted for piercing ; entire insect hairy, 

 the antennae plumose in male and pilose in female 



subfamily Corethrinae. 



Proboscis much longer than the head, firm and well adapted 

 for piercing in the female ; head, thorax, abdomen, legs and 

 wings, except in some species, covered in parts or entirely 

 with scales .......... 



*. subfamily Culicinae. 



' SUBFAMILY DIXINAE 



Slender Nematocera, almost devoid of hairs. Eyes round and dichop- 

 tic ; ocelli wanting. Antennae elongated, basal joint globular, the 

 remainder of varying length and size, the terminal ones almost filiform ; 

 palpi four-jointed. Thorax arched, without a transverse suture; 

 scutellum unilobed and transverse, metanotum arched. Abdomen long 

 and slender, consisting of eight segments, pointed in the female, and 



