144 
The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [June 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
The “New" Coastal Mosquito. 
Sir, —With regard to correspondence concerning the above subject in 
your last number, I wish to express my thanks to Mr. G. V. Hudson for 
pointing out the probable synonymy of this species with one described by 
Hutton as Opifex fuscus. This synonymy has since been confirmed by 
Mr. Edwards, of the British Museum, who was able to compare the 
types.' 
It is worthy of note that not only is Hutton’s description of 0. fuscus 
totally inadequate, but it also contains several inaccuracies, and is placed 
in a family, the Tipulidae, with which it has no connection. Consequently 
any attempt to correlate the littoral mosquito with this description would 
have been, in the absence of Hutton’s types or cotypes, to say the least, 
extremely rash. 
In conclusion, I should like to point out that, at a meeting of the 
Natural History Section of the Wellington Philosophical Society held on 
the 6th July, 1920. in Mr. Hudson’s presence, I gave an illustrated 
account of the adult and pre-adult stages of this mosquito. 
David Miller. 
Sir,— Mr. G. V. Hudson’s interesting note, published in the April number 
of this Journal , on the possibility of the species recently described by 
Mr. Miller, Government Entomologist, proving identical with Opifex fuscus 
Hutton has induced me to record the occurrence of the latter species in the 
Taranaki District. I have not read Mr. Miller’s report on the mosquitoes 
of New Zealand recently submitted to the Government, nor the description 
of his new species, which may or may not prove to be Opifex fuscus. 
Three years and a half ago I made a collection of the mosquitoes occurring 
in this district. In a letter to Mr. Miller three years ago I mentioned that 
I thought I had collected two new species or forms during that summer. 
On comparing Hutton’s description of Opifex fuscus with my specimens 
they unquestionably belong to this species. I sent a specimen of the second 
form to the Dominion Museum for identification. It proved to be a large 
but much darker form of Culex pervigilans Bergroth. Opifex fuscus is a 
sun-loving mosquito with a slightly longer proboscis than either of the 
two endemic species of Culex. It is, as Mr. Hudson states, extremely active 
in its habits, and is very difficult to net. When resting in the sunshine it 
displays a reddish sheen which distinguishes it from other species of native 
mosquitoes. Opifex fuscus may be collected in the straggling remnant of 
bush at Barrett’s Lagoon (Rotokare), near New Plymouth, during the 
summer months. yy yy Smith. 
By Authority : Marcus F. Marks, Government Printer, Wellington. 
[1,800/6/21-8873 
