The Culicine Mosquitos of Syria and the Lebanon

Extract

It was decided in May 1942 to make a survey of the Culicine mosquitos of Syria and the Lebanon, but the more important work dealing with the Anophelines prevented a complete and detailed one of the whole of Syria, though that of the Lebanon is more or less complete. Where only one or two records exist for any particular species, it cannot be presumed that these mosquitos are not common, and a subsequent detailed survey would probably reveal not a wider distribution of some species but also the presence of others not recorded here.

Whenever possible, eggs and larvae were bred out and permanent mounts made of the larval and pupal skins, and consequently identification of most of the species was based on larval, pupal and adult characters.

The identification keys used were taken from Marshall's “ British Mosquitoes ” 1938, and Kirkpatrick's “ Mosquitoes of Egypt ” 1925. It was found necessary to alter and to make new additions to these as they did not contain all those species found to be present.

I wish to thank Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonald, R.A.M.C, Malariologist, for permitting me to complete this work, Major H. S. Leeson, R.A.M.C, Entomologist, and Major O. Theodor, R.A.M.C, Entomologist, for their invaluable help in the construction of the keys and the confirmation of the species.

Uranotaenia unguiculata, Edw.-A single female was found resting among the vegetation in the daytime at Ammiq swamp in November, and a single larva was taken there in October. The breeding place was a small clay pit, 6–8 inches deep and containing green algae and a certain amount of vertical vegetation. U. unguiculata has not been found in any other part of Syria or the Lebanon.