106 MORE MINOR HORRORS 



paratively small, and very elegant. Its length 

 is some 3 to 4 mm., but if the mouth parts be 

 added is some 6 to 6 J mm. long. As is usual, 

 the male is smaller and feebler than the female. 

 When settled — as, for instance, whilst sucking 

 the blood of its host — it rests upon its first four 

 legs only, the two hindmost being stretched out 

 abaft like pennants waving 

 ^^ if in the air; but in general 



^ t^ i ^* ^^^ *^^ hump-backed 



^ appearance of Culex and not 



.^ji ''•**"'-*"" the straight outline of 



ii'i?- ..;."',/^;- Anopheles. The colour is 



V ''^ .»^- greyish black, modified by 



FjG.27.-Stegomyiafas. UUmcrOUS whitC SpotS and 

 data. Above, the larvae ; riugS. ThcrC is a whitC rim 

 below, the eggs. Both i . i j 



natural size. rouud the cycs, and a very 



characteristic lyre-like 

 pattern on the dorsal surface of the thorax. 

 The structure of the mouth parts is much 

 the same as that of any other Culicidae. 

 The antennae have fourteen joints, the last 

 two of which in the male are longer than 

 the others. As is again usual, the antennae 

 of the male have long brush-like hairs, 

 organs by means of which they find the female. 

 The legs are banded alternately with white and 

 black rings. It is this character, indeed, which 

 has given this mosquito the name of the 

 * tiger-gnat.' The wings are very iridescent. 



