﻿30 F. W. EDWARDS — A SYNOPSIS OF THE SPECIES OF 



This species seems to be variable ; or there may be more than one here. 

 Some specimens show narrow basal bands, others distinct apical lateral spots, on 

 the abdominal segments ; but the wing-scales are never mottled, and the ornamen- 

 tation of the abdomen, when present, never has any resemblance to that found in 

 the next two species. 



3. C. ager, Giles, Entomologist, XXXIY, p. 196 (July, 1901). 



My statement that this is not an African species proves to be incorrect. A 

 single male specimen from Maiduguri, N. Nigeria, June, 1911 (Dr. W. D.Inness) 

 is C. ager ; and a series has been bred from larva? from Bole, Gold Coast (Dr. A. 

 Ingram). It differs from C. consimilis (1) in having broad distinct apical pale 

 bands on the abdominal segments, as well as a pale basal band on segment 8 ; 

 (2) in the strongly marbled wings. 



To the synonymy previously given for this species may be added : Culex infula, 

 Theo., Mon. CuL I, p. 370 (1901). 



Between the African specimens and those in the British Museum from the 

 Oriental region there are slight but seemingly constant differences. However, 

 the description of C. ager given by Dr. Leicester applies quite well to the African 

 form, and as the resemblances are so great, and the species in the Oriental region 

 is undoubtedly variable, it is considered unwise to regard these specimens as 

 representing a distinct species. They may, however, be given a varietal name, 

 the variety being characterised as follows : — 



Culex ager, var. ethiopicus, nov. Resembles the type in most respects, but (1) 

 there is no pale spot at the apex of the proboscis above, as nearly always is 

 the case in Oriental specimens ; (2) the wing scales are larger, broader and 



Fig. 5. — Culex ager, Giles, var. n. ethiopicus. In some specimens many of the scales 

 on the forked veins are rather narrower than those shown in the figure. 



denser, the light ones being quite as numerous as the dark (in the type form they 

 are usually less numerous) ; (3) the bands on the abdomen are a lighter yellow. 

 In some specimens the thorax shows a distinct green colour, as is so often the 

 case in freshly hatched specimens. The lateral vein-scales vary somewhat in 

 breadth. 



4. C. animlioris, Theo., Liverp. S. Trop. Med., Mem. IV, App. p. v (1901). 

 Culex neireti, Ventrillon, Bull. Mus. Paris, XII, p. 103 (1906). 

 Additional locality : Gold Coast (Bole, Dr. Ingram) ; Madagascar (Dr. 



Ventrillon). 



