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

Fig. 20. Ficalbia elegam : head and distal segments of larva; (a) combtooth; (b) pectentooth (after LEE)
BIONOMICS. Larvae were collected from hoofprints on the edge of a swamp (Aus-
tralia). Adults were taken in a light trap at Hollandia.
DXTRIBUTION. New Guinea.
Ficalbia (Etorleptiomyia) fusca Leicester Igo
Head covered with broad, purplish scales with a white patch on vertex; along eye
margins there are silvery scales and on the nape upright forked ones. Wing scales
unusually large, rather broad, asymmetrical as in Mafzsonioiales. Long, numerous hairs
on mesonotum, scales dark brown. Legs without definite bands or spots. Abdomen
dorsally purplish black with pale hairs on apical margins of segments, ventrally pale
yellowish with some dark purple scales at apices of segments.
FEMALE. Head with antennae dark brown to black; t almost black with small
broad silvery white scales on inner surface, fs I pale at base, black at apex with a narrow
band of small, black scales about the middle, remaining segments black with numerous
short h.airs, black on basal joints, white on others. Clypeus nude, black. Palpi and
proboscis black; palpi about one third as long as proboscis, which is slightly swollen
on apical quarter; labella pale. Thorax. The dark mesonotum has a paler area over the
wing base. Scutellum paler than mesonotum, densely covered with small, flat, purple
brown scales. Pleura dark brown with several small patches of silvery white scales.
Legs mainly dark: Coxae pale brown with silvery white, flat scales, femora dark above,
pale beneath for variable distances; apices of femora and tibiae narrowly pale; t4-t5
of hind tarsi pale creamy, but never white. ,Abdomen. Small, basal, white, lateral
patches on some of the segments, sternites pale except for some darker scales at apices,
MALE. Head with the scales laterally paler than in female. Antennae strongly
plumose. Palpi three-quarters the length of proboscis, very slender, no hairs present,
Apical 1 hird of proboscis much enlarged. Otherwise as in the female.
Nets. This species changes much after it has been dead for some time: the colours of the scales
become drab and the whole insect shrinks a great deal. It should be examined if possible soon after
it has bezn killed.