GNATS' SCALES. 



613 



that I have overlooked other characteristic variations : 

 for, on cursorily going over the collection of Gnats in 

 the British Museum, I came across a variety quite new 

 to me. Culex annulatus offers a body colour variety. 

 Alternate rings of dark and white coloured battledore 

 scales cover the greater part of the body ; and the 

 thin fringe of hairs projecting out on either side are 

 longer and more numerous than in 

 C. musquito. The feathered antlers, 

 pectinate-antennae, of the male insect 

 are very attractive objects under a 

 moderate magnification, and these 

 surmount a brilliant sparkling set of 

 compound ocelli. 



In the genus Coccina (Dortkesia), 

 several species are found; the fe- 

 male although apterous and active 

 in all stages is completely covered 

 with a snowwhite secretion. 



In another genus.the Phytophthiria, 

 both sexes are indifferently wingless 

 or furnished with four distinctly 

 veined wings. The rostrum spring- 

 ing apparently from the breast ; 

 whilst the tarsi, two-jointed, are 

 furnished with two claws. The 

 most familiar species of this tribe 

 are the Aphides, Plant-lice. 



The Gnat-like midges, so very 

 common in England, are also fur- 

 nished with plumed antennae, and 

 are not unfrequently in consequence 

 mistaken for Culex pipens. They 

 belong, however, to Tipulidce, and 

 are quite destitute of scales, and 

 their larvae differ very materially. 



The Maple-aphis, better known as the Leaf Insect 

 (Plate VI. No. J.28), averages about the one-fiftieth of an 

 inch in length, and, although long sold and exhibited 

 under the name of the "Leaf Insect," nothing was 

 known of its origin and history, with the exception of 



Body-scale of Gnat 

 magnified 850 di- 

 ameters. 



