832 MOSQUITOES OF NORTH AMERICA 



Baiitat. — Demerara, Georgetown, (Quelch) (16. 6. 1899), a c? and 5; also from 

 St. Lucia. 



Time of appearance. — Demerara, March and May (Quelch). 



Observations. — In all respects the specimens received from Demerara and St. 

 Lucia agree with 8. fasciata, with the exception that the last tarsal joint of the hind- 

 legs Is apically banded black. A similar variation is seen In Anopheles argyrotarsis. 



OBiomAi. Descbiption OF Stegomtia fasciata, vabiett Qtjeenslandensis : 



Specimens of a peculiarly marked S. fasciata were sent by Dr. Bancroft, under 

 the name of O. Bancroftii Skuse. 



They form a very distinct variety In regard to coloration, but as I can detect 

 no structural differences from this world-wide gnat, I think they should be con- 

 sidered merely varieties of that species, which occurs in the same neighbourhood. 



?. Differs from the type first In that the mid lobe of the scutellum is covered with 

 a patch of deep purple scales, and secondly. In regard to the abdominal ornamenta- 

 tion, which has both basal and apical yellowish-white scales, and also an irregular 

 broad line of the same down the dorsum; In one specimen the entire abdomen Is 

 covered with creamy scales. 



Length.— i.5 mm. 



HaMtat. — Bupengary, South Queensland. 



Time of capture. — November. 



Obiginal Description of Stegomtia nigeeia: 



Thorax deep brown, with black scales, two short median pale lines in front of the 

 mesonotum, and a white patch on each side. Abdomen black, with narrow basal 

 white bands and a white spot on each side; venter white scaled. Legs dark brown, 

 tarsi basally white banded, the last in the hind legs all white, and also most of the 

 penultimate joint. 



$. Head black, with a narrow patch of white scales in the middle; palpi black, 

 with white scales at the tip, and a few long bristles; proboscis black, antennae dark 

 brown; basal joint black, with a tuft of white scales, forming two white spots just 

 below the eyes, and on each side of a small tuft of white down projecting between 

 the eyes, which are black and reddish, with a very narrow border of white scales. 



Thorax dark brown in some lights, deep black in others, covered with a felt of 

 deep black scales, like C. vigilax, a few creamy scales in front of the scutellum; two 

 thin, short, parallel, narrow rows of yellowish scales In front on the mesonotum, 

 and a patch of brilliant white scales on each side, just showing above; scutellum 

 blackish-brown, with a few broad white scales; metanotum deep chestjiut-brown; 

 pleurae bright chestnut-brown, with several patches of brilliant white scales. 



Abdomen black, with narrow basal bands of white scales. The black scales have a 

 purplish tinge In some lights, a basal white spot on each side, especially on the basal 

 segments. Venter with numerous white scales. Coxae with silvery-white scales; 

 fore legs brown, pale at the base, dark towards the tarsi; mid legs with a white spot 

 (not a band) at the base of the metatarsus and first tarsal joint; hind legs, with 

 the base of the metatarsus and first two tarsi, basally white banded, the third tarsus 

 nearly all white, and the fourth all white; hind tibia much swollen at the apex. 



Wings with brown veins and scales, testaceous at the base, scales long; first sub- 

 marginal cell about twice as long as Its stem, longer and narrower than the second 

 posterior cell, whose stem is about equal to Its length; posterior cross-vein nearly 

 three times its own length distant from the mid cross-vein; first long vein much 

 curved In the middle; fringe brown. 



Length. — 4.5 mm. 



Baiitat.— Bonny, West Africa (J. P. Fagan) (21. 11. 1899). 



Time of capture. — October. 



Observations. — A single ? only of this species received. In good condition, but some 

 of the legs, unfortunately, came off In examination, and are separately preserved. 



It can be distinguished by the thick felt of dark scales over the thorax, with 

 the two very narrow and short yellowish vlttae In front, and the small brilliant white 

 patch on each side of the mesonotum, and the silvery puncta on the pleurae; the 

 bend In the first long vein Is also characteristic. 



Original Description of Stegomtia fasciata persistans: 



Black and dark seal-brown with white and golden-white markings, legs banded 

 white, nearly as In 8. fasciata Fabr. 



$, head with broad, seal-brown scales, a bare, median occipital sulcus bordered 

 laterally by white scales which unite anteriorly and project between the eyes, 

 which are bordered by narrow, white scales; a series of brown bristles project 

 Inward and forward over eyes; sides of head with 2 distinct, white, linear patches 



