240 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER IX cribed. During the year that has elapsed since the appearance of the first edition, the attention that has been drawn to the family by the establishment of their instrumentality in the transmission of at least three of the most serious of the maladies peculiar to tropical regions has drawn minute attention to the group in all parts of the world, and the timely activity of the authorities of the British Museum and of our Royal Society, has resulted in the acquisition by the Museum of perhaps the largest collection of insects of any one family that has ever been brought together, and this has been further increased by the loan of collections sent for comparison by naturalists from all parts of the world. The examination of this enormous mass of material has been entrusted to Mr. F. V. Theobald, whose reputation as one of our most thorough dipterologists cannot fail to be enhanced by the encyclopaedic Monograph, now in the press, which has resulted from his labours. As the result of his examination of the family, Mr. Theobald summarises the outcome of his labours as follows : — " Total previously described good species, 164. " Species recognised and redescribed, 116. " Other descriptions, probably invalid owing to their shortness and the apparent absence of types, 25. " Described as distinct, but found to be synonymous with other species, 80.
" New species described, 186.
" Therefore the number identified and redescribed and the new species described in these volumes number 252. If to this we add the 48 species not yet identified, we get the total known number of GiilicidcB, 300."
It must not, however, be supposed that this represents more than the total of species examined at the time of the earlier sheets of his monograph going to press, nor must the reader expect to find it correspond exactly to the number given in the present edition, as the simultaneous passage of both our tasks through the press has been continually retarded by the receipt of fresh material, which not unfrequently has necessitated the reconsideration of the position
ON TH?: DISTRIBUTION OF THE CULICID^ '241 of an entire group. I understand from Mr. Theobald, that ah'eady some thirty or forty more new forms have turned up, which will necessitate the early issue of a considerable appendix to the two heavy volumes already in the press ; so that in place of the 242 species, good, bad, and indifferent, of the first edition, we have at least 800, whose validity is hardly likely to be questioned. Moreover, as there remain large areas from which no collections have been received, a total of 500 species as the actual total is certainly an underestimate, and I should not be surprised were it found to rival that of the butterflies. The remarkably wide distribution attained by certain species such as Steg. fasciata, Fabr, (C. tceniata, Meig.) has been found to be further illustrated in a most striking way by those of many other species, certain of which have reached the British Museum from the most widely distant parts of the globe. A notable instance of this is G. cantans, Meig., a well-known European species, which is now known to be common in Northern America, from the " States" to Manitoba, though this would hardly prepare one to find it in the Nehilgerri hills of Southern India, from which unexpected habitat specimens were sent me by Dr. Price, of Conoor. Another curious example is that of G. tigripes, De Grandpre et De Charmoy, Bancroft's "long-lived" Mosquito, which occurs not only in Australia, but in Southern and Central Africa ; and what is even more curious, this is by no means the only case of Africa and Australia being coupled together as the sole residences of a single species.
While, however, many species of Mosquitoes have a very wide distribution in longitude, their range in latitude is always much more limited ; the only apparent exceptions to this rule being cases such as that of G. cantanfi, in Southern India, where colonies of forms peculiar to the temperate zone are found at considerable elevations above the sea ; Conoor, where the specimens were taken by Dr. Price, being some 2,000 metres above the sea level, and enjoying a climate exactly similar to that of the other localities in which the species has been found. G. viivie- 16
242 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES— CHAPTER IX ticm, Noe, again, belongs doubtless, to a rather warmer climatic band than G. cantans, its northern limit being probably Italy ; but here again the species, though I have received it from most parts of India, does not appear to be really at home except in the hills, and such stray specimens as have come to hand from the plains have been taken at seasons when the climate has lost its tropical character; whereas in the Nehilgerri Mountains, it appears to be one of the commonest local gnats.
Where, as in the case of C. annulatus, Schrank, and G. spathipalpis, Rond., which I have taken in the Himalayas, there is, at some season of the year, continuous temperate land connection between the scattered habitat of any one species, distributions of this sort are easily understood ; but it is hard to see how C. cantans can have reached the mountains of Southern India at any period more recent than the glacial epoch, and the fact of certain species being common to Africa and the island-continent of Australia is even more difiicult to explain, unless they have been carried overseas by human agency ; and in this connection it is interesting to note that in at least one instance the species is one that has an exceptional power of enduring captivity, Dr. Bancroft having kept specimens for as long as five months in confinement.
As a rule then, we must not expect to find species as closely confined to certain localities as is the case with many other insect families, but to this, as to all rules of the sort, there are exceptions in which species have undergone differentiation to meet the exigencies of a peculiar environment. A notable instance of this is afforded b}' a late arrival at the British Museum, recently examined by Mr. Theobald, of a most aberrant form, generically distinct from any previously received, which has chosen as its home the burrows of certain crabs that live on the shore of some of the West Indian islands. This extraordinary gnat has, he tells me, antennae twice as long as its body, and but for the last two joints, clothed with scales from the scaphus to the tip. It must be left to field naturalists on the spot to ascertain how or why this queer Mosquito should require
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE GULICID^ 243 antennge of so unusual a size and character, but there can be httle doubt that it will be found to be in some way necessitated by its peculiar domicile. The tables given below, which are based on those that appeared in the first edition, are reproduced, with a few additions, from Mr. Theobald's monograph. LIST OF SPECIES ARRANGED ACCORDING TO COUNTRIES. Europe — 53 Species.
Anopheles Sinensis, Wiedemann. sub species pseudopictus, Grassi, Italy. — superpictus, Grassi, Italy. — maculipennis, Meigen, general. — bifurcatus, Linn., general. — nigripes, Staeger, Scandinavia to Italy. — pietus, Loew (?).
Stegomyia fasciata, Fabricivis, Italy, Spain, Portugal, England (?), Gibraltar.
— sugens, "Wiedemann, Corsica. Culex mimeticus, Noe, Italy. — annulatus, Schrank, general. — Ficalbii, No^, Italy.
— spathipalpis, Rondani, Italy, Gibraltar. — glaphyropterus, Sehiner, Austria, Italy. (?) — penetrans, R. Desvoidy, France. — cantans, Meigen, Europe generally. — bipunctatus, R. Desvoidy. France. — pulcripalpis, Rondani, Italy, England. — dorsalis, Meigen, Europe generally. — pencUlaris, Rondani, Italy. — pulcritarsis, Rondani, Italy. — ■ leucacanthus, Loew, Kasan, Russia. — ornatus, Meigen, generally. — nemorosus, Meigen, generally. — nigripes, Zetterstedt, Scandinavia, Arctic Circle. — sLlvae, Theob., England. — pipiens, Linnaeus, Europe. — nigritiilus, Zetterstedt, Scandinavia, England. — annulipes, Meigen, general. — articulatus, Rondani, Italy. — impudicus, Ficalbi, Italy. — punctatus, Meigen, Germany, Russia, Italy. — guttatus, Curtis, England. — hortensis, Ficalbi, Italy. — domesticus, Germar, Dalmatia. — lutescens, Fabricius, generally.
244 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER IX Culex fusculus, Zetterstedfc, Scandinavia, England. — modestus, Ficalbi, Italy. — vexans, Meigen, general.
— diversus, Theob., England. Taeniorhynchus Richardii, Ficalbi, Italy, England, ^des obscurus, Meigen, England. — cinereus, Meigen, general. Corethra pallida, Fabricius, England. — Nyblgei, Zetterstedt, Scandinavia. — pilipes, Gimxnerthal, Riga. — plumicornis, Fabricius, generally. — culiciformis, De Geer, generally. — flavicans, Meigen, Germany. — rufa, Zetterstedt, Lapland. — obscuripes, V. d. Wulp, Holland. — fusca, Staeger, Denmark.
Mochlonyx velutinus, Ruthe. (?)— culiciformis, De Geer. North America and Canada — 36 Species. Anopheles maculipennis, Meigen, Canada and United States. (?) — nigripes, Staeger (?). — Walkeri, Theob., Canada.
— punctipennis. Say, United States and Canada. — crucians, "Wiedemann, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Megarhina Portoricensis, Von Roder, Georgia, Miss. — rutilla, Coquillett, N. Carolina, Georgia, Florida. — ferox, Wiedemann, Columbia and Georgia. Psorophoi-a ciliata, R. Desvoidy, Texas, Atlantic coast, Georgia, &c. — taeniorhynchus Richardii, Ficalbi, Ontario. Stegomyia fasciata, Meigen, New Orleans, Savannah, &c. — (?) signifer, Coquillett, Columbia, B. N. America, &c. — (?) tarsalis, Coquillett, California. Culex Bigotii, Bellardi, Mexico. — taeniorhynchus, Wiedemann, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, &c.
— solicitans. Walker, United States, Atlantic seaboard. — cantans, Meigen, Ontario, Manitoba, United States, Nova Scotia. = C. conterrens, Walker. =stimulans. Walker. — sylvestris, Theob., Ontario, Manitoba. — testaceus, V. der Wvdp, Ontario. — Canadensis, Theob., Ontario. — aestuans, Walker, Toronto. — consobrinus, R. Desvoidy, United States and Canada. — nigripes, Zetterstedt, United States and Canada. — memorosus, Meigen, Toronto. = C. provocans, Walker.
— Spencerii, Theob., Manitoba.
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OP THE CULICIDJil 245 Culex fatigans, Wiedemann, United States. = C. pungens, Wiedemann.
— excrucians, Walker, Nova Scotia. — impatiens, Walker, Hudson's Baj'. — territans, Walker.
— annulatus, Meigen.
— pipiens, Linnaeus, United States and Canada. Janthinosoma musica, Say, Indiana. ^des fuscus, O.-Sacken, Ontario. Uranotaenia saphirina, O.-Sacken, Ithaca. Haemagogus cyaneus, Fabricius, Pennsylvania. Central America — 2 Species.
Psoro'phora ciliata, E. Desvoidy, Honduras. Stegomyia fasciata, Fabricius, Honduras. West Indian Islands — 28 Species. Anopheles argyrotarsis, R. Desvoidy, St. Lucia, Jamaica. (?) — albimanus, Wiedemann, Hayti and Porto Rico. Cycloleppteron Grabhamii, Theob., Jamaica. Megarhina Portoricensis, Von Eoder, Porto Rico and St. Vincent. Psorophora ciliata, R. Desvoidy. Stegomyia fasciata, Meigen, Grenada, St. Lucia, Jamaica, St. Vincent, Montserrat.
var. mosquito, R. Desvoidy, St. Lucia, Jamaica. sub-species Luciensis, n. v., St. Lucia, Demerara. — sexlineata, Theob., Trinidad. Culex Jamaicensis, Theob., Jamaica, Antigua. — taeniorhynchus, Wiedemann, St. Lucia. — confirmatus, Arribsllzaga, Jamaica, Trinidad. — scholasticus, Theob., St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia. — fatigans, Wiedemann, general. — atratus, and C. secutor, Theob., Jamaica. — inflictus, and An. pseudopunctipennis, Theob., Grenada. Janthinosoma posticata, Saint Lucia. — Lutzii, Theob., Trinidad.
Thrichoprosopon nivipes, Theob., Trinidad. Deinokerites cancer, Theob., Jamaica, St. Lucia. Wyeomyia Grayii, Theob., St. Lucia, Grenada. — longirostris, Theob., Brazil. — pertinans, Williston, St. Vincent, ^des, perturbans, Williston, St. Vincent. Haemagogus cyaneus, Fabricius, St. Vincent. Corethra punctipennis, Say, Porto Rico. South America — 44 Species.
Anopheles argyrotarsis, R. Desvoidy, Rio de Janeiro, Argentine, British Guiana.
246 GNATS OR MOSQUITOES — CHAPTER IX Anopheles Bigotii, Theob., Chili. := A. punctipennis, Bigot MS.
Anopheles Lutzii, Theob., Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro. — annulipalpis, Arribiilzaga, Argentine. Megarhina hseniorrhoidalis, Fabricius, Brazil, Argentine, Cayenne. — Portoricensis, Von Roder, Para. — ferox, Wiedemann, Brazil.
— longipes, Theob., Mexico.
— separata, Arribdlzaga, Argentine. — trichopyga, Wiedemann, Brazil. Janthinosoma discrucians, Walker, Argentine and Brazil. — Arribalzagis, Giles, Argentine and Brazil. — posticata, Wiedemann, Brazil, Argentine. — musica, Say, Brazil, British Guiana. — Lutzii, Theob., Brazil.
— oblita, Arribalzaga, Ai-gentine. Psorophora ciliata, R. Desvoidy, Argentine and Brazil. — Holmbergii, Arribalzaga, Brazil and Argentine. — scintillans, Walker, Amazon region. Sabethes remipes, Wiedemann, Amazon region. — longipes, R. Desvoidy, Guiana. Stegomyia fasciata, Fabricius, Brazil, Argentine, British Guiana Demerara, Panama.
Culex Bigotti, Bellardi, Rio de Janeiro. (?) — fulvus, Wiedemann, Brazil. — tseniorhynchus, Wiedemann, British Guiana. (?)— confinnis, Arribalzaga, Argentine. — tibialis, R. Desvoidy, Brazil. — serratus, Theob., Rio de Janeiro, British Guiana. — confirmatus, Arribalzaga, Brazil, British Guiana. — albifasciatus, Macquart, Brazil, Chili. — terrens, Walker, Argentine, South America. — virgultus, Theob., BrazU.
— fatigans, Wiedemann, Argentine, Brazd, Demerara, Panama, British Guiana, &c.
— cingulatus, Fabricius, South America. — flavicosta, Wallier, Amazon region. — flavipes, Macquart, Chili, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentine. — cyaneus, Fabricius.
Taeniorhynchus fasciolatus, Arribalzaga, Argentine, Brazil. Panoplites titUlans, Walker, Brazil, Argentine, British Guiana, Mexico. — Amazonensis, Theob., Lower Amazons. — quasititillans, Theob., Lower Amazons. — Sp. n., resembling Ochlerotatus confirmatus, Argentine. jEdeomyia squammipennis, Arribalzaga, Brazil, British Guiana, Argentine.
Uranotaenia pulcherrima, Arribalzaga, Ai-gentine, Brazil. — geometrica, Theob. (Lutz MSS.), Brazil. — Natahse, Arribdlzaga, Argentine.
ON THE DISTllIBUTION OF THE CULICID^ 247 West Africa and Islands — 33 Species. Anopheles paludis, Theob., Sierra Leone. — costalis, Loew, Sierra Leone, Lagos, Bonny, &e. — funestus, Giles, Freetown. — cinereus, Theob.
— barbirostris, Van der Wulp. Mucidus Africanus, Theob.
— mucidus, Karsch, Whydah.
Stegomyia fasciata, Fabricius, Sierra Leone, Lagos. — sugens, Walker, Sierra Leone. — Nigeria, and S. irritans, Theob., Bonny. — Africana, Theob., Freetown. Culex dissiuiilis, Theob., Sierra Leone. — iinpellens, W^alker, Sierra Leone. — Freetowuensis, Theob., Sierra Leone. — cinereus, and C. decens, Theob. — fatigans, Wiedemann ; and C. nebulosus, Theob. — masculus, and C. pruinosus, Theob., Sierra Leone. — metallicus, and C. Duttoni, Theob. — Annettii, and C. invidiosus, Theob. — aurites, and C. nimosus, Theob. — albitarsis, and C. invenustus, Theob. (?) — bimaculatus, Theob., Sierra Leone. Panoplites Africanus, Theob. Eretmapodites qumquevittatus, Theob., Sierra Leone. ^des bimaculatus, Theob., Sierra Leone. East Africa and Islands — 6 Species. Mucidus mucidus, Karsch, Delagoa Bay. Stegomyia fasciata, Meigen, Mombasa, Pemba Island. — Grantii, Theob., Socotra. Culex fatigans, Wiedemann, Pemba Island, Mombasa. — Mombasaensis, Theob., Mombasa, ^des Pembaensis, Theob., Pemba Island. South Africa — 9 Species.
Anopheles mauritianus, De Grandpre. Toxorhynchites violaceus, Theob., Natal. Stegomyia fasciata, Meigen, Natal. Mucidus laniger, Wiedemann, Natal. Culex impellens, Wallver, Durban, Natal. — luteolateralis, Theob., Durban. — fatigans, Wiedemami, Durban. — univittatus, Theob., Durban. — tigripes, De GrandjDre et De Charinoy, Durban. North Africa — 5 Species.
Anopheles Pharoensis, Theob., Cairo. Stegomyia sugens, Weidemann, Nubia.