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PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. V, April, 1951 
other paratype is in the collection of K. L. 
Knight. 
Discussion: 
This species is strikingly different, on the 
basis of the broad plate-like dark (with 
metallic reflections) scutal and scutellar scales, 
from all other known Pacific Aedes species. In 
this respect, and in the absence of acrostichal, 
dorsocentral, and prescutellar bristles, it 
closely resembles another Philippine species, 
Heizmannia scintillans Ludlow. However, the 
generic characteristics of Heizmannia of hav- 
ing the anterior pronotal lobes {apri) closely 
approximated dorsally and the postnotum 
bearing a group of moderately long bristles 
apically are sufficient to exclude platylepidus 
from that genus. The American genus Hae- 
magogus also has this type of scaling (and the 
same lack of scuta] bristles) but, like Heiz- 
mannia, differs in having the anterior pro- 
notal lobes closely approximated dorsally. 
^Aedes platylepidus also shows a relationship 
with these two genera in having the base of 
the meron only slightly above the base of the 
hind coxa. In Heizmannia and Haemagogus 
these two bases are on a line, whereas in 
Aedes the base of the meron is (? always) well 
above the base of the hind coxa. 
Although showing some resemblance to 
members of the genus Armigeres, this species 
differs in lacking prescutellar bristles, in the 
almost complete absence of sternopleural 
bristles, and in general habitus. 
Lack of the male and larva of platylepidus, 
together with its rather aberrant characters, 
prevent the making of a definite decision at 
this time as to its subgeneric position in 
Aedes. In Edwards’ (1932:131) subgeneric key 
to females, this species goes to Macleaya. 
This subgenus is based upon a single Aus- 
tralasian species, tremulus Theobald. How- 
ever, platylepidus differs completely from this 
species in nearly all details of vertex, scutal, 
scutellar, and pleural scaling; and although 
no direct comparison of specimens has been 
possible, it seems quite unlikely that this 
species is at all closely related to Macleaya. 
In general characteristics, this species seems 
to have much in common with the Ethiopian 
subgenus Dunnius. Perhaps the most striking 
correlation is the presence in this subgenus of 
several species that lack the scutal disc 
bristles, including the prescutellars, as does 
platylepidus. These are the only Aedes species 
recorded by Edwards (1932:174) as lacking 
these bristles. However, platylepidus is ex- 
cluded from Dunnius by the simple female 
tarsal claws and in not having the proboscis 
distinctly longer than the fore femur. 
Edwards (1932:179) questioningly (males 
unknown) places three Oriental species 
{achaetae Leicester, discrepans Edwards, and 
tripunctatus Theobald) in the genus Haema- 
gogus, which on the basis of type descriptions 
seem to be similar to platylepidus. The type 
description of discrepans states that a post- 
spiraculat bristle is present, a condition which 
would seem to be sufficient to exclude this 
species at least from either Haemagogus or 
Heizmannia. An additional interesting fact is 
that tripunctatus has all simple tarsal claws in 
the female (Barraud, 1934:310). 
Mr. P. F. Mattingly, British Museum 
(Natural History), has kindly compared a 
description of platylepidus with the types of 
achaetae and discrepans {tripunctatus not seen 
but apparently quite similar to discrepans). 
He reported that in general details they are 
much alike (particularly similar to achaetae). 
However, discrepans differs most notably in 
having both narrow and broad scutal scaling, 
thus resembling the subgenus Dunnius. 
Specifically achaetae differs in having at least 
the mid tarsal claws toothed and in lacking 
postspiracular bristles. He indicated that both 
achaetae and platylepidus show considerable 
general relationship with the genus Heiz- 
mannia. 
REFERENCES 
Barraud, P. J. 1934. The fauna of British 
India. (Diptera, Vol. 5, family Culicidae: 
