Synopsis of a hundred common non-anopheline mosquitoes of the ...

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LARVA (after BRUG). This species conforms to the genus characters as given before;
specific details can be found in I;i,. g II. Antenna slightly curved. Lateral thoracic hairs
with a strong spine, Curved lateral hairs on abdominal segment I and II; on III--VII
these hairs are stellate with 15-20 branches.
B~ONOMICS. Larvae were collected from Pn~z&znus and Colocnsin leaf ax&, at an
altitude of about 700 m.
DETRIBUTIOX. Sumatra, Bali.
Genus Harpagomyia De Aleyere agog
Occiput with broad, flat scales. Clypeus twice as long as broad, pointed in front.
Palpi short in both sexes, antennae equal in male and female. Mesonotum usually with a
median line of broad, flat, silvery white scales. Proboscis of peculiar structure (Fig. 12).
Fig. 12. Left : Hrtrpngomyin taking food
from ant’s stomach (from BARRAUD,
after JACOBSOX) ; right: peculiar pro-
boscis of Hnrfmgon~~~in.
Full grown larvae do not show any constant characters by which they can be distinguished
from Tofiovzyin larvae. From TrQ5tel~oide.s they may be separated by the absence
of large spines on the thorax. The absence of an anal fan is a common character in
Toponz~~& Triptelroides and Hnrpagomyin. Larvae have been found in leaf axils of
CoZocn:,in and similar plants, in tree holes and in old ants’ nests in which water had
collected.
The females do not suck blood, but feed on the contents of ants’ stomachs. They may
be seen hovering over a procession of ants, on which, from time to time, a Hn@ngonzyia
female alights. It places itself directly in front of an advancing ant, stops it, thrusts the
swollen tip of the proboscis (Fi,. 0 12) into the opened mouth of the ant and rapidly absorbs
the food. When not in use the mosquito proboscis is folded backwards under the body.
Harpa.$omyia splendens De Meyere agog
The peculiar proboscis brings this species at once into the genus Hnrpngomyin,
while the mainly black proboscis distinguishes it from the closely allied H. genwostris
Leicest er.