4 



Including the three species figured in this book, which are the 

 only ones as yet described from Africa, the number of species at 

 present recognised as belonging to Culicoides amounts to fifty-two, 

 the majority of which are European and North American, though 

 a few have been described from Australia, and one occurs in Brazil. 

 There can be little doubt that many additional African species have 

 still to be discovered. 



In spite of their small size, the females of Culicoides are among 

 the most irritating and bloodthirsty of insects, both in the tropics 

 and also in temperate regions. As regards these Midges in Ashanti 

 and on the Gold Coast, Dr. W. M. Graham has kindly supplied the 

 following note : " Species of Culicoides are known as ' Sand-flies ' 

 by Europeans in Ashanti and on the Gold Coast generally. They 

 are most troublesome towards sunset, or between 3.0 and 6.0 p.m. ; 

 not very troublesome after sunset, but are often found inside 

 mosquito nets and bite there. Anyone standing quietly near a 

 stream is sure to be bitten by these Midges, which in Ashanti 

 constitute a greater nuisance than any other blood-sucking flies." 

 Writing of a species (perhaps Culicoides grahamii, Austen, Plate I., 

 fig. 3) which is " very common in many places, usually near 

 habitations," in Busoga, Uganda, Dr. Christy says : "This minute 

 fly can pass through the finest mosquito netting ; muslin I have 

 not tried. It bites terribly, leaving an irritating wheal, which 

 itches for days. It makes a sharp short peevish buzz when settling, 

 fully as loud as a Mosquito. It attacks the wrists chiefly, but is 

 able to pass beneath a sheet and bite the ankles and feet. Many 

 were frequently found full of blood on turning down the bed-clothes. 

 I have met with a similar fly, with the same habits, at Ahmednuggar 

 (Bombay Presidency), India."* The " buzz " produced by these 

 Midges when on the wing is also alluded to in the following note by 

 Mr. R. L. Harger, of Blantyre, Nyasaland Protectorate (formerly 

 of the Administration of North-Eastern Rhodesia), written on 

 April 12th, 1907, when sending specimens of a new species with clear 



* Quoted by Theobald, under the heading " Ceratopogon, sp.," in Reports of the 

 Sleeping Sickness Commission, No. III., pp. 39-40 (London : Harrison & Sons. 

 November, 1903). 



