﻿KNOWN LARVAE OF AFRICAN CULICINAE. 383 



The slight differences noted by Wesche between different lots of C. duttoni 

 larvae (distinguished by him under the names dissimilis, Theo. and alboviryatus, 

 Graham) are evidently not of specific value ; the length of the siphon varies 

 with the age of the larvae,* and also individually. Nor can much importance 

 be attached to the anal papillae, which also vary somewhat. In the batch of 

 larvae described by Wesche as C. dissimilis, there is only one which has kept its 

 papillae, and in this the shorter pair are rather shrivelled, on account of which 

 Wesche stated that the dorsal papillae were about double the length of the 

 ventral. Normally in C. duttoni they are not much longer. 



Apparently there may be a good deal of difference between larvae of different 

 ages. Two larvae of C. quasiyelidus, sent by Dr. Ingram, illustrate this well. 

 Though seemingly of the same species (both having the well-marked dark ring 

 on the siphon) they differ as follows : the larger has eight or nine teeth in the 

 pecten, and three ventral pairs of plumose hair-tufts on the siphon, the chitinous 

 ring on the anal segment is complete, and the head is very dark ; the smaller 

 has only six finer teeth in the pecten, four ventral tufts of simple hairs on the 

 siphon, a chitinous saddle on the anal segment, and a light brown head. 



Culiciomyia is also variable. Normally C. nebulosa has four ventral pairs of: 

 hairs-tufts on the siphon, but occasional specimens have five. The number of 

 teeth in the pecten varies from two to five, and may not be the same on opposite 

 sides of the siphon. Larvae from the same batch vary in the length and amount 

 of plumosity of the antennal tuft. In the pupae, too, the notch in the anal flap 

 is much more distinct in some specimens than in others, and may be almost 

 indistinguishable. When the impossibility of separating the adults is also taken 

 into consideration, there can be little doubt that the larvae and pupae described 

 by Wesche as Culiciomyia freetownensis and C. cinerea are really varieties 

 C. nebulosa. It should be mentioned that neither of the larvae described by 

 Wesche for Pectinopalpus fuscus can possibly belong to this species. 



Genus Mimomyia, Theo. 



Large species ; comb consisting of seven moderate-sized teeth, 

 rather irregularly placed ; posterior edge of anal segment 

 slightly spinose ... ... ... ... ... plumosa (Theo.). 



Small species ; comb consisting of six or seven large teeth placed 

 almost in a straight line ; posterior edge of anal segment 

 markedly spinose ... ... ... ... mimomyiaformis (Newst.). 



It is unfortunate that Dr. Ingram did not send home any larvae of this genus, 

 except one of M. plumosa. He did, however, send pupae, and these can be 

 distinguished by the following table. All have respiratory tubes of great 

 length ; this character also occurs in Mansonioides and Taeniorhynchus. 

 1. Anal flaps narrow, with a broad fringe of cilia, transparent, 



except at the tip, where they are darkened ... splendens, Theo. 



Anal flaps broader, not fringed, dark, with white spots ... ... 2. 



* I have found this to be the case in breeding Cidex pipiens, and still more strikingly in 

 Theobaldia annulata. The younger larvae have the shorter siphons. 



