ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF SIMULIUM. 39 



Time of appearance. — From early April till the beginning of September, but 

 commonest apparently in April and May. 



Distribution. — This is probably the commonest species of the genus all over the 

 British Islands, though it may often be overlooked. The following list includes most 

 of the localities from which I have examined specimens, but I have not kept a note 

 of all : — England : Helston, Padstow and Downderry, Cornwall (L., V., Y.) ; 

 Bovisand, S. Devon (Y.) ; New Forest (Y.) ; Corfe Castle^ Dorset (Y.) ; Cusop, 

 Hereford (Y.) ; Stokenchurch, Oxford (F.) ; Oxford (H.) ; Crowborough, Sussex (J.) ; 

 Bumham Beeches and Fulmer, Bucks. (E.); Harrow Weald and Ruislip, Middlesex 

 {E.) ; Ampton, Livermere and Timworth, Suffolk (N.) ; Orford, Suffolk {K.) ; KirtHng, 

 Cambs. (F.) ; Cambridge (J.) ; Burley in Wharf edale (G.). Wales : Porthcawl, 

 Glamorgan (Y.). Scotland: Glencorse and Blackford Hill, Edinburgh (G., 

 J. Waterston) ; Hunter's Quay and Ardentinny, Argyll {K.) ; Arrochar, Bonhill, 

 Helensburgh and Luss, Dumbarton {K.) ; Braidwood and Gorge of Avon, Lanarks. 

 (K.) ; Hawkhead, Renfrew (K.) ; Dairy, Ayr (K.) ; Auchenbowie, Stirling (J.) ; 

 Aberfoyle, Blairgowrie, Loch Gill and Loch Tay, Perth (Ct.) ; Benbecula (N. B. 

 Kinnear) ; Aberdour, Aberdeen (G.) ; Aviemore, Ballindalloch, Corrour, Dunachton, 

 Kincraig, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore and Spey Bridge, Inverness (G., J ., L., Y.) ; 

 Nairn (Y.) ; Logic, Elgin (J.) ; Kinlochewe, Ross {W. R. 0. Grant) ; Dingwall, 

 Cromarty (K.) ; Loch Maree (K.) ; Loch Assynt, Sutherland (Y.). Ireland : Shgo 

 (K.) ; Newcastle, Co. Down (K.) ; Cappoquin, Co. Waterford (K.). 



Habits. — Nothing has been recorded, except that Colonel Yerbury has found the 

 males hovering in a flock in the shade. In view of the commonness and wide 

 distribution of the species, the absence of any records of its biting would seem to 

 prove that it is not a blood-sucker. 



Synonymy. — This has always been assumed to be Meigen's S. latipes, and I see no 

 particular reason to doubt that it is so. S. aureum, Fries, has often been quoted as 

 a synonym, but I believe wrongly ; the same applies to S. auricoma, Mg., which 

 appears to me from the description to be *S. ornatum. 



10. Simulium aureum, Fries, (fig. 1, ^). 



Differs from >S. latipes as follows : — Hind metatarsi thin in both sexes ; male 

 genital claspers (fig. 1, i) much thinner and not twisted ; adminiculum differently 

 constructed (four mounts compared) ; femora and tibiae of female yellow with 

 black tips ; of the male somewhat lighter towards the base. 



Time of appearance. — The dates of capture of the small number of specimens I 

 have seen range from 31st March to 15th August. 



Distribution.— A^i^aienily a rare species, occurring with S. latipes, to which it is 

 closely allied. In the following list of localities those only are given from which 

 I have seen male specimens, as I know of no reliable character to distinguish the 

 females from those of S. latipes or S. angustipes. England : Mildenhall, Suffolk 

 (Y.) ; Foxhall, nr. Ipswich {M.)\ Cambridge, in house {J.). Wales: Porthcawl, 

 Glamorgan (Y.). 



Habits. — Probably identical with those of S. latipes. 



Synonymy. — I think this species must be correctly named, as it fits Fries' description 

 very well indeed. It is evident that S. aureum has been wrongly sunk under S. latipes ; 



