P./58TO BRITISH MUSEUM. r REPORT ON THE OF MOSQUITOES (C'ULICIM) RECEIVED AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSES OF MALARIA. library)*! COLLECTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE COLONIAL OFFICE AND THE ROYAL SOCIETY. BY FRED. V. THEOBALD, M.A. Printed by Order of the Trustees. LONDON: l'RINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, By Hauling & Son, Ltd., 34-40, Bacon Street, E. 1900. BRITISH MUSEUM. REPORT ON THE COLLECTIONS OF MOSQUITOES (CULICIM) RECEIVED AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY) FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSES OF MALARIA, CONDUCTED BY THE COLONIAL OFFICE AND THE ROYAL SOCIETY. BY FRED. V. THEOBALD, M.A. Printed by Order of the Trustees. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE, By Darling A Son, Ltd., 34-40, Bacon Street, E. 19UU. * REPORT ON THE COLLECTIONS OE MOSQUITOES. A large number of mosquitoes belonging to the Dipterous Family CulicicUe have been received at the Museum during the past year from various parts of the world. At the request of the Director I have undertaken the work of identifying and describing the specimens which have been and are still being received from various quarters, and to prepare a monograph of the CulicicUe. The combined collections contain a large number of species and considerably over 3,000 specimens. The majority belong to the genus Cule.v , but a fair number, some 400 odd specimens, to the genus Anopheles and a few to other genera such as Psorophora , R. Desv., Aedes, Meig., Haemagogus , Will., etc. At present l have completed the genus Anopheles, which is represented by twenty-two species, ten of which arc new, whilst four of the remainder (A. funestus , A. fuliginosus , A. Lindsajii, and A. Possii) have only recently been described by Major Giles, I.M.S. There still remain eight or nine well defined species which are not represented in the collections. Those from India and the Straits Settlements sent by Captain S. P. James, I.M.S., Dr. Goodrich, Mr. Daniells, and Mr. Wray have proved the most interesting, all the species, except one, A. Sinensis, Wied., from the Straits Settlements, being new. The Anopheles, unlike Culex, does not appear to have a wide distribution in regard to species, although the genus is world- wide. One of the greatest distances between any two localities for the same species is F ormosa and the Straits Settlements, from ii044 — 352— 6/1 U 00 Wt :>‘)73 D Ac S 'J 4 both of which localities A. Sinensis, Wied., has been received, but I believe it occurs in all the intervening East Indian Islands. This species is synonymous with Van der Wulp’s A. barbi.rostris from East Java and Walker’s A. ranus from the Celebes. A long series sent by Mr. Wray from the Straits Settle- ments show great variation both in colour and size ; whereas all the other Anopheles appear very constant in colour and markings. At present I am engaged with the genus Culex, some ninety odd species of which have already been identified or described as new species. The work of identification is extremely difficult owing to the very meagre descriptions of most of the older species. In many cases one description will apply to two or three distinct species, so that the probability is that several described as new species have been previously named, but cannot be identified unless from the original types, many of which have decayed away. Again a large number of descriptions have been compiled from worn specimens and are thus valueless ; in this way, I believe, Walker described Culex taeniatus under at least three different names ( ( '. zonatipes , C. formosus, and C. exagitans). In three authors alone are the descriptions sufficiently full and clear to be of any value, namely Skuse’s of the Australasian species, Arribalzaga’s of the Argentine, aud Ficalbi’s of the Italian and European, and a few isolated species such as those described by Coquillet, Williston, and others in various journals. So far no purely European species except those that occur in Malta and Gibraltar, etc., have been examined by me, as the majority of the collections have come from tropical and sub- tropical countries. Two species of Culex seem to have a very wide distribution, namely, C. taeniatus (Meig) and ( . fatigans Wied. The former I make synonymous with the following, C . formosus, < . exagitans, and C. zonatipes of Walker, C. Itoss/i of Giles, and < . elegans, Ficalbi, whilst C. mosquito of Robineau Desvoidy is undoubtedly a distinct variety of < taeniatus, specimens of typical < . mosquito merging into those of C. taeniatus. This species has been sent 5 from the following widely separate localities : — Japan, Formosa, Hong Kong, Malay Peninsula, India, South and West Africa, North and South America, West Indies, Gibraltar, and I believe it to be the same as Ficalbi’s Italian species C. elecjans ; older records are from the Celebes, .lava, etc. A very closely related form, which may only be a variety of it, is described by Skuse as C. Bancrofti from New South Wales ; specimens exactly answering to this species have been sent to the Museum from the West Indies and South America, which differ only from C. taeniatus in that the last tarsal joint has a black basal band instead of being pure white. Another widely distributed species is Culex mucidus Ivarsch, which is the same as Culex hispidosus of Skuse, and C. commovens Walker. C. mucidus was described from a male specimen from Delagoa Bay ; C hispidosus from a female from New South Wales, C. commovens from Australia. Specimens received from Dr. Bancroft clearly show that these are the same although occurring in such widely separate localities. Other instances of a similar wide distribution occur. A new genus which 1 propose to call Panoplites has been made for the reception of several species of Culex , three of which have previously been described, namely, ( 'ulex annulipes, Wlk., < . dives Schiner, and Taeniorhynclius tueniorliynchus Arri. Seven species of this genus have been sent in the collections from India, Malay Peninsula, South America, and Australia. The scales on the wing-field differ very materially from those of typical Culiciild’ , being in the form of broad flat plates. As many of the species of the genus Culex are very obscure, photographs of the wings and drawings of various parts are being prepared, and complete figures of the majority of species will also be given. Most of the collections have arrived in fair condition, some few have been attacked by mites, and one or two by mould. Specimens seem to travel best pinned to the cork of a small glass tube, firmly packed in cotton wool. 6 No one collection is being worked out as a whole, so it is not possible as yet to give any collector a full list of the names of the specimens sent. The following is a list of collections of Mosquitoes received at the Museum up to the present time either through official or private sources. List of the Collections of Mosquitoes received ur to the present time either through official or PRIVATE SOURCES. Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. Delagoa Bay S. ft. Christophers. 39 Culex, 5 other Diptera. 303/99 Feb. 13, 1899. Bombay ... C. W. Daniels. 32 Culex, 36 Ano- pheles. 443/99 Mar. 6, 1899. British Guiana — New Amsterdam. Dr. E. D. Rowland. 8 Culex — April 4, 1899. Para H.M. Consul, W. S. Churchill. 47 Culex ... 670/99 April 12,1899. Queensland Burpengary, via Brisbane. Dr. T. L. Bancroft. j Large number of ( Culicidm, too ( damaged to iden- r May 8, 1899. Do. (2nd consignment) ) tify. ( - May 15, 1899. St. Vincent, B.W.I. — Botanic station. H. Powell. 40 Culex 935/99 May 25, 1899. St. Lucia, B.W.I. — Castries St. George Gray, M.B. 24 Culex — May 25, 1899. Queensland, Burpengary Dr. T. L. Bancroft. (3rd consignment.) 4 glass tubes contain- ing Culickhe, much damaged. — May 29, 1899 7 Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. Para 50 Culex June 8, 1899. H.M. Consul, W. S. Churchill. (2nd consignment.) Queensland, Burpengary 7 bottles and 1 small June 10, 1899 Dr. T. L. Bancroft. tin box containing (4th consignment.) quite 100 Culex and Anopheles. St Vincent 48 Culex 1017/99 JunelO, 1899. H. Powell. (2nd consignment.) Demerara 04 Culex 1054 and June 16, 1899. (Through Governor and 1057/99. Colonial Office.) J. J. Quelch. St. Lucia — Castries 39 Culex June 23, 1899 St. George Gray, M.B. (2nd consignment). Brazil 3 Anopheles, 3 Culex 1204/99 July 4, 1899 Dr. A. Lutz, of the and 13 other Dip- Bacteriological Insti- tera mounted. tute of the State Sao 1 Anopheles, 28 Paulo. Culex and 4 Dip- (Through the British tera in bottles. Consulate, Rio de Janeiro — W. G. Wag- staff, Consul-General.) Montserrat, Leeward Islands. 22 Culex ... 1195/99 July 7, 1899. F. L. Norris. Japan — Tokyo 25 Culex, 1 other July 4, 1899. C. H. B. Woodd. Dipteron. Malta 7 Culex, 49 other 1129/99 July 11, 1899. Dr. T. Zammit, Medical Diptera. Officer of Health. St. Lucia — Castries 4 boxes containing 91 July 19, 1899. St. George Gray, M.B. Culex, 15 other (3rd consignment.) Diptera, 3 Beetles, 2 Moths. 8 Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. New Zealand Prof. R. J. Scott. 15 Culexand 1 other Dipteron. July 21, 1899. Mexico ... British Consulate, C. J. Biorklund, Acting Consul. Collection of mixed insects, no Mos- quitoes. 1347/99 July 31, 1899. Bermuda ... G. Digby Barker, C.B., Governor and Com- mi8sioner-in-Chief. Dr. Eldon Harvey, Medical Officer of Health, Collector. (Through Colonial Office.) 3 boxes — 59 Culex, 16 other Diptera. 1453/99 Aug. 16, 1899. Kashmir Dr. Ernest F. Neve, Mission Hospital. 4 Culex unmounted in paper. 1470/99 Aug. 21, 1899. Singapore Raffles Library and Museum. (Per R. Hanitsch.) 53 Culex, 8 other Diptera. 1541/99 Sept. 4. 1899. Formosa British Consulate, Tamsui. (R. de B. Layard, Con- sul ; Dr. G. Mackay, Collector.) 33 Culex, 6 Ano- pheles, 2 other Diptera. 1360/99 Sept. 6, 1899. (See Reg. No. 1766/99.) Jamaica F. Cundall, Secretary, Jamaica Institute. 32 Culex 1590/99 Sept. 15, 1899. Fjji B. Glanville Corney, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Department. 1730/99 Oct. 11, 1899. Panama British Consulate (C. Mallet, Consul.) 29 Culex 1598/99 Sept. 22,1899. Gibraltar Colonial Secretary, Sir H. Jackson. Collector, Major Birt. 60 Culex 1607,99 Sept. 22, 1899. Fiji — Suva Barclay Black, M.D. Forwarded by B. Glan- ville Corney, Chief Medical Officer. Remains of 1 Ano- pheles, 3 empty cards. 1624/99 Sept. 22, 1899 9 Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. Hong Kong Charles Ford (Botanical and Afforestation Department). 43 Culex mounted 50 Culex (about) in spirit (pro- bably all Culex). 1606/99 Sept. 27, 1899. East Africa — Pemba D. R. O’Sullivan-Beare, British Vice-Consul. 18 Culex, and 18 other Diptera. No letter, see Reg. No. 1742/99. Oct. 11, 1899. Fiji — Suva Barclay Black, M.D. Forwarded by B. Glan- vill Corney, Chief Medical Officer. Mouldy, apparently all Culex (29). 1913/99 Nov. 9, 1899. Ceylon A. Perry, Principal Civil Medical Officer. 9 Culex, 12 other Diptera, 1 Ichneu- mon. No letter Nov. 9, 1899. Cayman Islands Per G. J. Stuart Tait, Government Medical Officer. (Through the Colonial Secretary, Jamaica.) About a dozen Mos- quitoes, much damaged by mites. 1939/99 Nov. 10, 1899. West Africa — Bonny Per J. P. Fagan, Dis- trict Medical Officer, 1I.B.M. Vice-Con- sula'e. 270 specimens un- mounted, appar- ently nearly all Anopheles. 2001/99 Nov. 21, 1899. Mauritius, Government of Per Sir Charles Bruce, K.C.M.G. 24 Culex, 2 other Diptera. 1989 and 1997/99 Nov. 22, 1899. Jama:ca — Kingston M. Grabham, M.D. Do. (2nd consignment) 1 6 Culex, 4 Ano- > pheles, much J damaged. ( 2034/99 1 2078/99 Nov. 24, 1899. Nov. 30, 1899. Cyprus Chief Secretary to the Government (W. Hart Bennett Act- ing)- Collected by P. Genna- dius, Director of i Agriculture. 5 Culex, 6 other Diptera, 2 Hy- menoptera. 2125/99 Dec. 7, 1899. Jamaica Institute Per F. Cundall, Secre- tary* (2nd consignment.) 'Box 1, about 14 pieces Culex and Anopheles ; Box 2, 26 Culex, 6 Anopheles ; Box 3, 25 Culex, 4 „ Anopheles. ■« ►2126/99 Dec. 7, 1899. «044 B 10 Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. Rio de Janeiro ... Per W. G. Wagstaff, Consul-General. Collector, Senhor Car- los Moreira, Entomo- logist of the National Museum, Rio. 68 Culex, 12 other Diptera. 2127/99 Dec. 7. 1899. South India — Travancore S. P. James, M.B., Capt. I.M.S. 1 Anopheles and 5 empty cards. — Dec. 5, 1899. Queensland — Burpengary Dr. T. L. Bancroft. 2 boxes, 6 Anopheles, 35 Culex, also 14 tubes containing 150 to 200 Mos- quitoes and other Diptera. Dec. 5, 1899. Madras Dr. E. S. Goodrich, Ox- ford Museum. 40 Culex, 3 Anophe- les, 16 other Dip- tera. Dec. 12, 1899. St. Lucia, W.I. — Castries Otho Galgey, M.R.C. P.I. 3 boxes, 93 Culex, 9 Anopheles, 1 Moth. 2215/99 Dec. 21, 1899. Ceylon A. Perry, Principal Civil Medical Officer. (2nd consignment ) 32 Culex, 23 other Diptera. (No letter.) Dec. 27, 1899. Fiji— Suva Barclay Black, M.D. (3rd consignment.) 5 Culex and 12 frag- ments. 2261/99 Dec. 30,M899. St. Lucia— Castries St. George Gray. 16 Anopheles, 2 Cu- lex, 4 other Dip- tera, 2 Hymenop- tera, also small bottle with 4 larvae. Jan. 6, 1900. Hong Kong Charles Ford, Super- intendent, Botanical and Afforestation De- partment. 42 Culex, 10 other Diptera mounted, about 40 Culex in spirit. 2236/99 . Jan. 8, 1900. Manitoba ... Dr. Gordon Bell, Pro- vincial Bacterio- logist. 11 Culex, 1 Anophe- les. 93/1900 Jan. 19, 1900 Cairo Dr. H. P. Keatinge (School of Medicine). 2 Anopheles Jaq. 19, 1900. I 11 * Place and Name. Specimens, &c. Registered No. Received. Straits Settlements — Tai- peng. L. Wray, junr. 66 Anopheles, 72 Culex, 53 other Diptera. '1 " Nov. 22, 1899. and Dec. 21, 1899. Sierra Leone — Freetown E. E. Austen. 104 Anopheles, 84 Culex. — Nov. 1899. St. Lucia — Castries St. George Gray. 3 Culex, 2 other Diptera, 2 Moths. — Feb. 1, 1900. Jamaica ... Dr. Grabham. 32 Culicidai (good condition), no let- ter, notes in box. — Feb. 8, 1900. Selangor ... A. L. Butler. 51 Culex, 1 Anophe- les, 3 other Dip- tera, good condi- tion. 1 Oct. 28, 1899. St. Lucia — Castries St. George Gray. 31 Culicidae, 14 other Diptera, 2 moths. — Aug. 3, 1899. British Guiana, New Am- sterdam. Dr. E. D. Rowland. 38 Culex, 1 Anophe- les, some damaged by mites and mould. Sep. 1899. Grenada W. E. Broadway. 100 Culicidse, fair condition. — Feb. 14, 1900. Quilon Travancore, South India. Captain S. P. James, I.M.S., 19th M.I., Quilon. (2nd consignment.) 35 Culex, 34 Anophe- les, much damaged by mites. Mar. 7, 1900. Mauritius Dr. Rees. 10 Culicidae, almost entirety destroyed. — Mar. 7, 1900. Lagos Dr. Henry Strachan, District Medical Officer. 5 or 6 fragments of Culex. Mar. 17,1900. British Guiana — New Amsterdam. Dr. E. D. Rowland. About 70 Culicidae — Mar. 30,1900 Granada j Walter J. Chambers, | H.B.M. Consul. Deoclesiano Chaves, Managua, Collector. Mixed Diptera ; very much damaged. Mar. 30, 1900. Grenada ... W. E. Broadway. j 42 Culicidae ; fair condition. 624/1900 Mar. 30, 1900. 12 Trinidad "* i H. Caracciolo, per Hon. C. C. Knollys. Mombasa ••• J. D. McKay, East Africa Protectorate. Canada E. M. Walker 99, St. George St., Toronto, Ontario. Penang, Straits Settle- ments. G D. Freer.M.B., Lend., Colonial ' Surgeon Resident, General Hospital, Penang. Fi-ji Chief Medical Officer, B. Glanvill Corney, Suva, Fiji. Collected by H. Noble Joynt, M.D., D.P.H. Dacca ... ••• •" Collected by Et.- Colonel R. Macrae, I.M.S., assisted by Assistant - Surgeon ■ Jogeesur Mukerjee. Forwarded by Colonel T.H. Handley, C.I.E., I.M.S., Surgeon- General of Civil Hos- pital, Bengal. Italy Professor Grassi. Mosquitoes in spirit 7 Culicidae, some broken. 2 boxes, 128 speci- mens : 92 Culex, 3G Anopheles, in good condition, brought by Donor’s father. 5 Culex, 12 Ano- pheles. Fragments of 21 Culex. 190 Mosquitoes, Cnlex and Ano- pheles ; nearly all in fragments eaten by Psoci. April 30,1900. 885/1900 May 8, 1900. 820/1900 May 9, 1900. 7 Mosquitoes. Typical named specimens of 4 species. May 11, 1900. o- „p the above list was in type additional Postscript. — since tne collections have been received at the Museum. British Museum (Natural History ), Cromwell Road, • July 16 th, 1900. ‘4 ' V' \ BR ARYj