Horváth Géza (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 3. (Budapest 1905)

Theobald, F. V.: A catalogue of the Culicidae in the Hungarian National Museum with description of new genera and species

III. ANNALES MU SEI NATIONALIS HUNGARICI. 1905. A CATALOGUE OF THE CULICIDAE IN THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW GENERA AND SPECIES. By F

RED

. V. THEOBALD. M. A. (Plates I- IV and 15 text figures.) Preface. The notes and descriptions of Culicidae recorded in this Catalogue are taken from the collection of the National Museum of Hungary. The material so beautifully mounted and collected by M. B

ÍRÓ has been graciously placed at my disposed by Dr. K

ERTÉSZ to whom I owe many thanks for the honour he has paid me. The types will be found in the Hungarian National Museum. Wye (England), June 1904. Introduction. The Culicidae or Mosquitoes are of special importance amongst Diptera on account of the part they play in the spread of certain diseases. At least three well known complaints are connected with these insects. namely malaria, yellow fever and filariasis. The first named is spread by certain species of the Anophelina. the yellow fever by at least one Stegomyia and filariasis by certain Culex and possibly Mansonia and Taeniorhynchus. These flies not only act as carriers of disease germs, for the Anophelines play the part of secondary hosts, in which the blood parasites of malaria undergo certain stages of their life-liistory. There is reason to think that other fevers in tropical and warm climates may also be carried by Culicidae. Their close study is therefore all the more essential. The number of species in this family at present described is about five hundred but I have at least another hundred new species as yet undescribed and twenty-five are described in this Catalogue with seven new genera.