244 r. W. EDWARDS — THE AFKICAN 



Genus Protomelanoconion, Theo. 

 Mod. Cul. V, p. 462 (1910).^ 



1. P. fuscum, Theo., Mod. Cul. V, p. 463 (1910). 



Although the generic characters will at once distinguish the male from all the 

 related genera, the female is a very obscure insect, and might easily be mistaken 

 for a small Culex, a Culiclomyia, or an Aedes. It perhaps bears the greatest 

 resemblance to a Culiciomyia, since it has the sarrie rim of white scales round the 

 eye-margins ; but an examination with the microscope shows that the white 

 scales are narrow-curved and not flat. P. fuscum Q can be distinguished from 



Culex grahami and its allies by the much longer bristles on the thorax. 



Genus LuDLOwiA, Theo. 

 Mon. Cul. IV, p. 193 (1907). 

 Megaculex, Theo., Mon. Cul. IV, p. 282 (1907). 

 Radioculex, Theo., Rec. Ind. Mus. 11, p. 295 (1908). 

 Hispidimyia, Theo., Mon. Cuh V, p. 245 (1910). 

 The essential characters of the genus are : — (1) the apparently 2-jointed 

 S palpi, of which the apical joint is swollen ; (2) the short fork-cells, especially 

 the first ; (3) the rather peculiar shape of the marginal cell ; (4) the nearly bare 

 posterior half of the wings ; (5) the structure of the ungues, which is essentially 

 the same as in Culex, but the larger claw on the anterior tarsi of the male always 

 has two teeth ; (6) the long antennae of the (S , usually longer than the 

 proboscis. 



Ludlowia was founded on Mimomyia (?) chamberlaini, Ludlow, and Radioculex 

 on R. clavipalpus, Theo. An examination of the types, however, shows that 

 these are in reality one and the same species. Hispidimyia hispida, Theo., is 

 very little different from L. chamberlaini. and Megaculex alhitarsis, Theo., has 

 all the essential characters of the genus.* 



Table of species of Ludlowia. 



1. Head with mostly narrow-curved and upright-forked scales in 



middle ; last two joints of hind tarsi white (subgenus Megacidex) 2. 

 Head mostly covered with flat scales, except for a very small area 

 behind ; last two joints of hind tarsi not white (subgenus 

 Ludloioia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3. 



2. Large species, 7-8 mm. in length ... ... ... ... pliimosa. 



Small species, 3 mm. in length ... ... ... ... pi?icerna. 



3. Legs narrowly banded, last hind tarsal joint whitish {chamberlaini)^ 



„ uniformly dark ... ... ... ... ... ... hispida. 



" Since the above was in type I have had an opportunity of examining a male of Boycia 

 mimomi/iaformis, Newst. (vide p. 266), from Derri, N. Nigeria {J. J. Simpson). It evidently 

 belongs to the subgenus Megacidex of Ludlowia. 



f This species does not occur in Africa. 



