JUL 24 1918 
MOSQUITOES AND MALARIA. 101 
Mosquitoes and Malaria. 
Readers will no doubt call to mind that in the ‘‘ Current Notes,” 
pp. 188-9, vol. xxix. (1917), there was printed the substance of a 
memorandum received from the Local Government Board as to infor- 
‘mation desired regarding the prevalence of Anophelines. As consider- 
able apprehension is felt that malaria may be introduced in various 
parts of the country by returning soldiers, this memorandum has been 
reissued with much additional matter as to the identification of 
specimens. 
The South-Hastern Union of Scientific Societies has constituted a 
standing Committee, with the Rev. T. W. Oswald Hicks as Hon. 
Secretary, to further this investigation through the Societies affiliated 
to the Union. 
We print below the additional information as to the Identification 
of Specimens, which may be of use to those who have a considerable 
knowledge of entomology. But in all cases it would seem best to for- 
ward the specimens to a specialist for full identification or veritication. 
This is neither a difficult nor laborious task, for the gnat suspected can 
be placed in an envelope such as collectors use to send butterflies from 
abroad, and forwarded enclosed with a letter giving the details asked 
for to the Rev. IT’. W. Oswald Hicks, ‘‘ Lesware,’’ Linden Road, London, 
N. 15, or direct to Mr. A. J. Grove. c/o Medical Officer, Local Govern- 
ment Board, S.W. 1. 
“ Anopheline mosquitoes may be distinguished from Culicines by 
the following characters :— 
(a) The attitude.—An Anopheline mosquito resting on a wall holds 
itself so that its body (which forms almost a straight line 
with the head and proboscis) projects so as to form a distinct 
angle with the substratum. In the case of the Culicine 
mosquito, the body (which is hump- backed 1 in appearance) - is 
held parallel to the supporting surface. 
“(b) The length of the palpi in the female.—The palpi of male mos- 
quitoes, both Anopheline and Culicine, are long, and furnished 
with long hairs, which together with the plumose antenna, 
give the head of the male mosquito a feathery appearance. 
The palpi in the female Anopheline are simple slender rod- 
like structures, and are as long as the proboscis, whilst in the 
female Culicine they are short, insignificant appendages. 
“‘ There are three species of Anophelines found in the British Isles, 
viz., A. maculipennis, A. bifurcatus, and A. plumbeus (nigripes). 
“A. maculipennis may be distinguished from other British Anophe- 
lines by the fact that the legs and palpi are unbanded, and that the 
wings have four spots in the body or field of the wing, but no spots on 
the costal margin. 
‘A. bifurcatus resembles A. maculipennis, but differs from it in that 
JunE 15tH, 1918. 
