2 DIPTERA 



Robineau Desvoidy's Essai sur la tribu des Culicides, in 1827 ; Arribalzaga's description of Argentine Culicida; 

 in the Dipterologia Argentina (Rev. del Museo de La Plata), in 1891 ; Ficalbi's Revizione sistematica delta 

 famiglia delle Cnlicida Europea, in 1896, and Venti Specie die Zanzare (Culicidas) Italiane, in 1899. 



Arribalzaga added four new genera, namely Taniorhynchus, Janihinosoma, Ochlerotatns and Hetero- 

 nycha. The two latter cannot be retained for reasons mentioned later. 



In rgoo, Giles published a Handbook of Gnats or Mosquitoes (Culicidae) which is mainly a compilation 

 of the majority of previously described species. The work being of interest however as showing the 

 chaotic state of the family at that time. 



In 1901, the Trustees of the British Museum published my Monograph of the Culicidce of the World 

 and later, in 1903, a third volume of the same work. 



The enormous amount of material collected since 1900 in various parts of the world necessitated 

 the formation of many new genera described in the last mentioned work. Since igo3 they have been 

 further augmented. Some new genera are detailed here thus completing our present knowledge with 

 the exception of those occurring in the collection of the National Museum of Hungary which will shortly 

 appear in my catalogue of the collection. (Ann. Ungar. Nat. Mus. Vol. 3, igo5.) 



The generic characters were previously based on the palpi, the primary genera being distinguished 

 as follow : Anopheles, palpi long in both sexes; Culex, palpi long in the cf, short in the 9 '> Aedes, 

 palpi short in both sexes. 



Robineau Desvoidy's genera which are all very marked are referred to later and also Arribalzagas. 



The characters used in my recent classification are mainly based on the scales of the head, thorax, 

 abdomen and wings. 



In igo3, Neveu-Lemaire proposed a modification of this classification useing also the palpal 

 jointing for generic purposes, but for obvious raesons the squamose characters which can be seen in 

 museum specimens with the aid of the microscope have been generally adopted. Jointing of the palpi 

 can only be see in micro-preparations after the scales have been deunded. 



Characters of the Family. — Mouth parts prolonged into a piercing proboscis, composed of 

 mandibles, maxillae, upper and lower lips and a tubular hypopharynx. 



Head clothed with variously formed scales. Thorax with hairs or scales, the metanotum usually 

 nude but in some genera (Joblotia, Sabethes, etc.), with scales and chaetae or chaetae alone (Wyeomyia, 

 Phoniomyia, etc.). 



Abdomen with either hairs, scales or both. Legs and veins of the wings in all cases clothed with 

 scales of varied forms. Wings with six longitudinal veins (in one case seven : Heptaphlebomyia), costal 

 vein carried completely around the border of the wing; two prominent fork-cells (i st submarginal and 

 2 nd posterior cells). Legs with equal ungues in the 9 ; m the cf the fore and mid ungues unequal, 

 hind equal. 



Antenna; in 9 usually plumose, but not always (Deinocerites, Sabethes, etc.), in the 9 pilose. Palpi 

 variable, in form composed of from one to six segments. The proboscis usually straight (Culex, Anopheles) 

 but may be curved (Megarhinus, etc.), jointed and elbowed {Limatus) or swollen (Mimomyia). Larva; and 

 pupae aquatic, living in both salt and fresh water. 



Generic Characters. — The following are characters used as generic distinctions, in my 

 Monograph of the Culicidce of the World and in subsequent writings. 



Scales. — These structures vary and are the most important characters to be noticed in grouping 

 this family. The}- range in form from fine curved hair-like structures to broad flat plates. The following 

 types of scales may be noticed : 



1. Flat or spatulate scales; 3. Broad Aedeomyia scales; 



2. Broad Mansonia scales; 4. Curved hair-like scales; 



