130 A. T. STANTON — THE ANOPHELES 



Daetylomyia ceylonica, Newstead and Carter, Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit. vi, 



p. 377 (1910). 

 Nyssomy zomyia punctulata, James and Liston {nee Donitz), Anoph. Mosq. 

 India, 2nd ed., p. 104 (1911); James and Stanton, Trans. Far East. 

 Assn. Trop. Med. 1912, p. 315. 



The suggested synonymy is based on the following considerations. The species 

 here referred to under the name tessellatus was first described by Theobald from 

 specimens taken in Malaya. In his manuscript he gave it the name A?iopheles 

 tessellatum, but before publication, having seen Donitz' description of his 

 Anopheles punctulatus, he considered the two to be identical and used his 

 description as that of Anopheles punctulatus, Donitz. In a later volume of his 

 monograph (iii, p. 55) Theobald states that, as pointed out by Donitz, tessellatus 

 is distinct from punctulatus ; the former species he includes in the genus 

 Myzomyia and the latter in the genus Cellia — to this opinion he adheres in his 

 volumes iii and iv. In volume v I can find no reference to tessellatus, but 

 punctulatus is again referred to under the genus Cellia. 



I here accept the view adopted by Theobald and confirmed by Donitz' 

 subsequent description of a species, Anopheles deceptor, which conforms in all 

 respects to that of the Malayan species tessellatus, though Donitz was unable to 

 satisfy himself that such was the case. Examination of perfect newly hatched 

 specimens has shown, however, that Theobald's drawings were not quite accurate 

 in regard to those markings which Donitz considered to be of specific importance 

 and upon which he relies in the separation of deceptor from tessellatus. 



Newstead and Carter have described from Ceylon an Anopheles under the 

 name Daetylomyia ceylonica, characterised, according to these authors, by " a 

 distinct and very pronounced cylindrical-shaped tubercle or finger-like process 

 projecting obliquely from the prothoracic region." Where the tuft of scales on 

 the shoulder is absent, as appears to have been the case in the partially denuded 

 specimen examined by Newstead and Carter, the prothoracic lobes are 

 conspicuous objects. The appearance of a finger-like process projecting from the 

 prothoracic region is, I believe, the effect of drying with partial displacement of 

 the prothoracic lobes — it occurs in many well-known species and is sometimes 

 unilateral. In all points noted in the description of Daetylomyia ceylonica the 

 species appears to be identical with Malayan tessellatus, and Newstead and 

 Carter's excellent description and illustrations of their specimen leave no 

 reasonable doubt that ceylonica and tessellatus are the same species. 



Doubtless owing to the confusion which had arisen in regard to Donitz' 

 punctulatus, James, and Liston in their last edition redescribed Indian 

 specimens, considered to belong to that species, under the name Nyssomy zomyia 

 punctulata, James and Liston. This species is however identical with the 

 Malayan tessellatus, and though I sympathise with these authors in their attempt 

 thus to cut the Gordian knot, I think their name also must sink as a synonym of 

 that species. 



From the ova laid by a female Anopheles tessellatus in captivity, larvae and 

 pupae in due course developed and finally adult mosquitos. From the deposition 

 of the ova till the emerging of the imagines periods varying from seventeen to 

 twenty-eight days elapsed. 



