248 BANKS. 



Very great variety exists in this species, individuals emerging from 

 the same batch of eggs showing marked instability of pattern. I do not 

 propose to indicate or even suggest that they should be considered other 

 than mere aberrations due to conditions of growth, but they at least 

 demonstrate that there is a decided instability in this species or sub- 

 species, whichever it may eventually prove to be. I indicate them with 

 letters merely for convenience: 



Var. a. — In this specimen there is on each side of the mesonotum at its base, 

 a very thin, white line extending cephalad one-fourth the length of the segment, 

 then curving outward exactly as the lyre pattern in 8. persistans and IS. fasciata. 

 This curved line is very faint. Laterad to this line is a broad, straight, silvery, 

 interrupted band from the prothoraeic lobe to the base of the wing. Two speci- 

 mens, both females. 



Var. 6. — The joints of the antennae in this specimen, which is a male, are pure 

 white on their margins. The median mesothoracic band is very faint. 



Var. c. — This fine specimen has the lateral band of var. a extending dorsad to 

 the base of the wing and terminating at the scutellum. The band is heavier and 

 the scales are more distinct and quite silvery. The interruption is veiy slight, 

 so that except under a lens the band appears as if continuous. It is confluent 

 with the white, postocular cephalic band. Below this band on the anterior area 

 of the mesoplura is another white band parallel with it, but terminating cephalad 

 at the prothoraeic lobe. The indications of the lyre-mark, although present, are 

 very faint. It is a female. 



Var. d. — ^This specimen has an abnormally broad median, white, longitudinal 

 cephalic band. It is a male. 



Var. e. — In this variety, the posterior tarsi are black, except for a very faint, 

 white patch at the bases of the first and second segments. The lateral lobes of 

 the scutellum are also black instead of silvery as in the typical specimen and in 

 all the other varieties enumerated. 



HABITS OF THE ADULT. 



The adults of this species in the forest behave somewhat as those of 

 S. persistans in houses, although they are not quite so persistent in their 

 attacks. Their bite is equally as painful as that of the other species. 

 Their average size is also greater and the note made by the vibration of 

 the wings consequently has a lower pitch. It is easily possible to dis- 

 tinguish four distinct tones with males and females of both species 

 together in a Jar, those of the male of 8. persistans being highest, those 

 of the male of ;S'. samarensis next, followed by those of the females re- 

 spectively of 8. persistans and 8. samarensis. 



In Manila, the adults of this mosquito are occasionally found in 

 houses and their larvae may be seen associated with those of 8. persistans 

 in the cups formed by bamboo fence posts. There is no means of dis- 

 tinguishing between the larvEe by a casual examination, and, econom- 

 ically, there is really no need to do so as they should both be placed in 

 the "pernicious" class. 



