Stegomyia Theobald, 1901

Keith Snow, 2001, The names of European mosqitoes: Part 7, European Mosqito Bulletin 9, pp. 4-8 : 4-5

Stegomyia Theobald, 1901

Theobald, F.V. in: Howard, L.O. (1901) Mosquitoes: how they live; how they carry disease; how they are classified; how they may be destroyed. New York. McClure, Phillips & Co. xv + 241 pp.

Theobald, F.V. (1901) A monograph of the Culicidae or mosquitoes. Volume 1. 424 pp. London. British Museum (Natural History).

Greek, stego- = covered, roofed; myia = fly

Named on page 283 of the monograph as a genus (GENUS 9. - STEGOMYIA . novo gen), this subgenus is descnDed as having scales completely covering the dorsal surface of the aduh fly: "Head clothed completely with an armour of broad flat scales; mesothol 3 X covered with either narrow-curved or spindle-shaped scales; scute1 lum always with broad flat scales to the middle lobe, and usually with them present on the lateral lobes; abdomen completely covered with flat scales, banded or unbanded, with white lateral spots".

However, this is not the only reference to the name Stegomyia in 1901. On page 234 of Howard's Mosquitoes, the author says "It will be noticed ... that Mr. Coquillett and the writer have adopted the generic name Stegomyia for the mosquito which has in our previous writings been named Culex fasciatus . I have been induced to adopt this name through correspondence with Mr. Theoba1d,who writes me that he has discovered characters which separate this mosquito from the old genus Culex , and that he has proposed the name Stegomyia for the genus. He has given me no clew [clue] as to the characters upon which he has founded this genus, except that they are 'scale chaIacteristics'.

On page 233, Howard continues: "It is unfortunate that this table [on page 235] has to be published before the monogxaphic work by Mr. F. V. Theoba1d... " On the next page Howard again refers to the timing of the publication: "It will be unfortunate should this use of the name antedate the publication of Mr. Theoba1 d's' monograph ... " and "This ... will make Mr. Theobald respoIlSlole for these geneIa as well as Stegomyia , in the event that this book is issued from the press in advance of his publication".

According to a hand-written note by Charles Waterhouse bound into the first volume of the Monograph held at the Natural HistOIYMuseum, London, this volume was published on November 23 1901 and copies sold on December 19 190 1. Unfortunately no information regarding the exact date of publication of the book by Howard can be discovered. However as the Monograph was published so late in the year of 190 1, it is likely that the use of the name Stegomyia first appeared in print in the book by Howard.