M 141
Larval skins and corresponding adults of mosquitoes belonging to the genus Culex which were hatched out from the liquid obtained from pitcher plants were submitted to Dr. Edwards of the British Museum for identification, but for the present he is unable to name the species until fresh material is forthcoming from Sumatra and Malaya. Ten larvae of A. maculatus were put into pitcher plant fluid one evening, left overnight, and were all found dead next morning.
The larvae of C. virgatipes resemble those of C. fatigans and the mosquitoes can easily be confused. As C. fatigans is a common house pest and C. virgatipes does not figure in catches, it is important to distinguish between these species. The larvae of C. virgatipes have been found in ditches between ridges on which vegetables were planted, and in wet vegetable cultivation, also in pools in hill streams containing leaves. C. fatigans have been found occasionally breeding in wet cultivation in small numbers.
In addition to C. mimeticus and C. mimulus there appears to be a third spotted winged Culex (not C. orientalis) in Hong Kong, but examination of more material is required before a definite opinion can be given.
The larvae of C. sinensis closely resemble that of C. cornutus, an Indian species.
The larvae of C. castrensis var. foliatus at times remain parallel to the surface of the water like those of Anophelines.
The larvae of Harpagomyia genurostris were found in water in pineapple plants; the larvae of Aedes albopictus were also found there. The habits of Harpagomyia as described on page 92 Genera Insectorum (P. Wytsman) 194ME Fascicule, Diptera Fam. Culicidae by F. W. Edwards, M.A., Sc.D., are most peculiar. These habits were observed by Jacobson in Java, and confirmed subsequently by James in Ceylon and Farquharson and others in Tropical Africa. "The flies haunt tree trunks where ants of the genus Cremastogaster are found and obtain their food from the ants. The proboscis of the mosquito is evidently highly specialised for this purpose and they probably do not feed in any other way. The Harpagomyia places itself directly in front of the advancing ant, sometimes even nipping the ant between its front legs and not releasing it until it stops and opens its jaws, when the mosquito thrusts the swollen tip of its proboscis into the ant's mouth and rapidly absorbs the food offered. While the interchange is taking place the ant strokes the tip of the mosquito's proboscis with its palpi".
In the Wong Chok Hang tent night catches, females of M. (M.) uniformis and M. (C.) crassipes were met with occasionally but no males. The larvae obtain their oxygen from the roots of certain plants, attaching themselves to the plants by means of their peculiar syphons. They can be dislodged and
M 141
Larval skins and corresponding adults of mosquitoes belong- ing to the genus Culex which were hatched out from the liquid obtained from pitcher plants were submitted to Dr. Edwards of the British Museum for identification, but for the present he is unable to name the species until fresh material is forthcoming from Sumatra and Malaya. Ten larvae of A. maculatus were put into pitcher plant fluid one evening, left overnight, and were all found dead next morning.
The larvae of C. virgatipes resemble those of C. fatigans and the mosquitoes can easily be confused. As C. fatigans is a com- mon house pest and C. virgatipes does not figure in catches, it is important to distinguish between these species. The larvae of C. virgatipes have been found in ditches between ridges on which vegetables were planted, and in wet vegetable cultivation, also in pools in hill streams containing leaves. C. fatigans have been found occasionally breeding in wet cultivation in small numbers.
In addition to C. mimeticus and C. mimulus there appears to be a third spotted winged Culex (not C. orientalis) in Hong Kong, but examination of more material is required before a definíte opinion can be given.
The larvae of C. sinensis closely resembles that of C. cornutus, an Indian species.
The larvae of C. castrensis var. foliatus at times remain parallel to the surface of the water like those of Anophelines.
The larvae of Harpagomyia genurostris were found in water in pineapple plants; the larvae of Aedes albopictus were also found there. The habits of Harpagomyia as described on page 92 Genera Insectorum (P. Wytsman) 194ME Fascicule, Diptera Fam. Culicidae by F. W Edwards, M.A., Sc. D., are most peculiar. These habits were observed by Jacobson in Java, and confirmed subsequently by James in Ceylon and Farquharson and others in Tropical Africa. "The flies haunt tree trunks where ants of the genus Cremastogaster are found and obtain their food from the ants. The proboscis of the mosquito is evidently highly specialised for this purpose and they probably do not feed in any other way. The Harpagomyia places itself directly in front of the advancing ant, sometimes even nipping the ant between its front legs and not releasing it until it stops and opens its jaws, when the mosquito thrusts the swollen tip of its proboscis into the ant's mouth and rapidly absorbs the food offered. While the interchange is taking place the ant strokes the tip of the mos- quito's proboscis with its palpi".
In the Wong Chok Hang tent night catches, females of M. (M.) uniformis and M. (C.) crassipes were met with occasion- ally but no males. The larvae obtain their oxygen from the roots of certain plants, attaching themselves to the plants by means of their peculiar syphons. They can be dislodged and
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