Other Insects called Mosquitoes. 
91 
OTHER INSECTS THAN CULICIDAE CALLED 
MOSQUITOES. 
There are several other groups of Diptera which contain 
insects some of which bite, and which are then spoken of as 
mosquitoes ; some of these have been sent in the various collec¬ 
tions to the Museum. These will be dealt with at a later 
date. 
Amongst the families which contain “ false mosquitoes ” are 
the Simulidae, Chironomidae , Psychodidae , and Cecidomyidae. The 
former has certain members of the genus Simulium, which are 
extremely annoying in the same way that Culicidae are. They 
are, besides being spoken of as mosquitoes, called “ sand flies ” 
and “ black flies.” Simulidae abound in all parts of the world, 
from Iceland to the Tropics, but are particularly abundant 
in the northern latitudes of Europe and in North and South 
America. Their mouth parts are as fully developed as in Culex, 
many causing extremely nasty wounds. Schonbauer * gives an 
account of one species, S. columboschensis, which is one of the 
greatest scourges to man and beast in the Bannat of Temeswar, 
in Hungary. In the United States and Canada the so-called 
“ black flies ” are Simulidae. One is a great scourge in the Adiron¬ 
dack region to human beings (S. molestus) ; and another, the 
buffalo gnat (S. pecuarum), a still greater scourge in some parts 
of the States. In the Southern States these “ buffalo gnats ” 
are also known as “ turkey gnats.” Cattle suffer terribly from 
them, their bodies, especially the orifices, being often literally 
covered, and drive the beasts frantic. The “ grey gnat ” of 
America is not a Cidex ; it belongs to one of the families of the 
Chironomidae called Ceratopogon .f These small flies are gene¬ 
rally called “ midges,” and are often seen in cloudlike masses, 
hovering and dancing up and down. They are abundant pests 
in the West Indies. The females are very voracious blood¬ 
suckers, and hence have earned in some parts the name mosquito. 
In America they are spoken of also as “ punkies.” They are 
particularly troublesome in the White Mountains, at the seaside, 
* “Gescli. der Studl. Kolumhatezermiicken.” 1795. Wien, 
t “An Account, of British Flies,” vol. i. p. 196. F. V. T. 1892. 
