PUPAL STAGES OF WEST AFBICAN CULICID^. 47 



55. Megaculex pincerna, Graham. 



Larva. 



Dark, larger species. 



Head nearly as large as thorax, very dark. Antennae curved and peculiar, 

 the distal joint going off at an angle ; the base is dark, but they become 

 ligliter at the end : about | from the base a £an-plume o£ very plumose hairs 

 is inserted ; at the base of the distal joint is a long spine and the joint itself 

 <3arries two spines, a long and short one (PI. II, fig. 5). The brushes with 

 istitV long hairs, rather prominent. Plumes on the face large and of very 

 plumose hairs. 



The thorax is small, but very markedly plumed. 



The abdomen has some long single hairs (subplumose) as well as short 

 :stellate plumes of single hairs (PI. II, fig. 8), two of the latter on each side 

 of a segment, placed transversely. The comb consists of a single row of 7-8 

 long scales. 



Th3 siphon is about half the length of the abdomen and only tapers 

 slightly ; it is four times the length of the base. It is remarkable for the 

 iipparent absence of the spines, which are very" minute and atrophied ; there 

 are lateral plumes, inserted about the middle ; the valves are large (PL I, 

 fig- 7). 



The anal segment is long, and is also singular, as it is longer on its dorsal 

 side and has a rough surface ; minute serrations can be seen with careful 

 focussing on the dorsal side, and there are some minute spines on the edges 

 •of the sides (PL II, fig. 9). The papillae are thin, pointed, equal, and of 

 about the same length as the segment ; there are long hairs on the dorsal 

 edge and the beard which is inserted at the end of the segment is thin, but 

 much longer than the papillse (PL II, fig. 9) ; all the hairs are simple. 



Length of larva 3^ mm. 



Pupa. 



The pupa is very dark and has remarkably long, thin trumpets ; the anal 

 plates are also peculiar, as they are of unusual shape and dark, and the 

 ^dges are minutely serrate. The small plumes at the ends of the seventh 

 segment appear to be absent ; but as I had only one specimen, which from 

 its curves was exceedingly difficult to manipulate, I am not sure (PL II, 

 figs, (j, 6 a). 



Length of thorax 2 mm., of trumpet 1^ mm. 



Described from two larvae and one pupa. 



Dr. Graham tells me that there is a white spot on the anal plate, but the 

 iiction of the formalin has quite obliterated it in this specimen ; he states 

 that it is a very distinctive feature in the living pupa, or in newly killed 

 .specimens. 



[Larvae found in borrow-pits early in June. — W. M. G.] 



