Genus Melanoeonion. 239 
are easily recognised from the larvae of other local culices by 
their delicate transparent outline, small size, and relatively great 
length and fineness of the respiratory siphon. They feed on 
algae ; both larvae and pupae are often bright green in colour. 
The upper two-thirds of the respiratory siphons of the pupa is 
black or very dark grey in colour, in striking contrast to the 
rest of the body of the pupa, which is very transparent, especially 
just after metamorphosis, only the eye-spots and siphons being 
pigmented ; the dark portion of the siphon has a paler grey band 
about the centre. Culea atratus is a troublesome pest in swamps. 
I have not met with it often in Kingston. The females only 
attack at all times of the day and night, and ordinary mosquito 
netting is no protection against it.” 
Dr. Low noticed the difference in these larvae from those of 
Culex, such as C. fatigans, having a much longer respiratory 
siphon. They live in ponds with vegetation and outside collec- 
tions of water. The adults bite readily, causing severe irritation. 
Plate XVI. shows the larva and pupa. 
MELANOCONION ATRATUS. Theobald. 
Culex atratus. Theobald. 
(Mono. Culicid. II., p. 55, 1901.) 
Additional localities.—British Guiana, taken in the bush and 
at Georgetown hospital, and also bred from larvae at Georgetown 
in July, October, and also taken in November (Dr. Low); New 
Amsterdam, taken in dwelling-houses (S. D. Rowland); Para, 
Brazil (Dr. Durham) ; Barbados, two 9’s, one taken in swamp, 
the other in the town in June (Dr. Low) ; St. Lucia, bred from 
larvae, in November (Dr. St. George Gray). 
MELANOCONION LUTEOPLEURUS. n. Sp. 
Thorax deep brown, with brown narrow-curved scales ; 
pleurae bright yellowish; scutellum ochraceous, with three 
black patches of scales; metanotum dark brown, surrounded 
by pale ochraceous. Abdomen black, with basal lateral small 
pale spots and pale testaceous basal segment. Legs black, 
unbanded. Wings with rather dense brown scales on the 
apical portions. 
9. Head-brown, with a few narrow-curved dull grey scales, 
densely clothed with rich, deep yellow, upright forked scales and 
