Yungahelea, a new genus of predaceous midge from northwestern Argentina (Culicomorpha: Ceratopogonidae)

ABSTRACT A new monotypic genus and species of predaceous midge from the southernmost area of the Argentinean Yungas, Yungahelea australis Spinelli and Ronderos, is described and illustrated from male and female adults. It belongs to a group containing the Ceratopogonini genera Parabezzia Malloch, Diaphanobezzia Ingram and Macfie, Spinellihelea Borkent, Grogan and Picado, Leptohelea Wirth and Blanton, and Fittkauhelea Wirth and Blanton. Phylogenetic interpretation indicates that Yungahelea is the sister group of Spinellihelea or the clade composed by Parabezzia and Diaphanobezzia.

Identification of rodents and blood-sucking insects in Xisha Islands of China and the first report of Anopheles mosquitoes and midges / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To study the species and distribution of rodents and blood-sucking insects in Xisha Islands of China, so as to provide evidence for prevention and control of infectious diseases; in the area. Methods: Using mouse cages and light trap, we collected rodents and blood-sucking insects (mosquito and midge) in Yongxing and Shi Islands (two islands of China' Xisha Islands) during November to December in 2013 and February to March in 2014. The specimens were identified by morphologic characters and molecular markers. Results: A total of 160 rodent individuals, belonging to 3 species, were captured: Rattus norvegicus, Rattus tanezumi and Sorex sp, with Rattus norvegicu (61. 25%) being the dominant species. The 315 collected mosquitosamples belonged to 4 genera and 5 species, with the dominant species being Armigeres subalbatus (52. 38%). The Anophelss mosquito was identified as Anophelss subpictss cytotype B by ITS2 sequence. The 121 collected midges belonged to 3 subfamilies, 4 genera and 8 species, with Culicoidss peliUouensis (61. 98%) being the dominant species. Conclusion: The species numbers of rodents, mosquitoes, and midges in Yongxing and Shi Islands are 3, 5, and 8, respectively. This is the first record of Anoprelss mosquitoes and midges in the area, and Forcipomyia (Lepidohelea) chrysolopha and Forcipomyia (Schizoforcipomyia) borbonicawere are firstly recorded in China.

Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Martín García Island, Argentina

Nearly 230 species of biting midges have been recorded or described from Argentina; 38 of them are known from the Buenos Aires province and only one is cited from Martín García Island. This paper presents the results raised from six collecting trips which took place on the island during spring 2005, summer 2006 and autumn 2009. Diverse sampling sites including permanent and temporary aquatic environments were chosen, most of the ten sampling sites were ponds of diverse origin, some of these environments were covered with floating vegetation as Lemna gibba, Lemna minuscule, Salvinia biloba, Salvinia minima, Azolla filiculoides, Limnobium laevigatum, Pistia stratiotes, Spirodela intermedia, Wolffiella oblonga and Wolffia columbiana. Other sites were placed in urban and suburban areas. Adults were collected with sweep nets at sunrise and sunset and with light traps at intervals of four to five hours at night, depending on electricity availability on the island. Larvae and pupae were collected with different implements depending on characteristics of each surveyed aquatic habitat. In free standing water, they were captured with small sieves or hand pipettes and micropipettes, flotation techniques were utilized for sampling vegetated areas, free and rooted floating hydrophytes were extracted for removing insects among them. Thirteen species of Ceratopogonidae were collected, three of Atrichopogon Kieffer, three of Forcipomyia Meigen, two of Dasyhelea Kieffer, four of Culicoides Latreille, and one of Bezzia Kieffer, all representing new records from the island. Rev. Biol. Trop. 59 (3): 1183-1194. Epub 2011 September 01.

Alrededor de 230 especies de ceratopogónidos han sido registradas o descritas en Argentina, 38 de ellas son conocidas para la provincia de Buenos Aires y sólo una ha sido previamente citada para la Isla Martín García. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos a partir de muestreos realizados en seis viajes a la isla durante la primavera de 2005, verano de 2006 y otoño de 2009; se seleccionaron diez sitios de muestreo con ambientes acuáticos permanentes y temporales. La mayoría de los muestreos se llevaron a cabo en cuerpos de agua de diverso origen; algunos de éstos se hallaban cubiertos con vegetación flotante compuesta por Lemna gibba, Lemna minuscule, Salvinia biloba, Salvinia minima, Azolla filiculoides, Limnobium laevigatum, Pistia stratiotes, Spirodela intermedia, Wolffiella oblonga y Wolffia columbiana; mientras que los restantes se realizaron en zonas urbanas y suburbanas. Los adultos se capturaron con redes entomológicas a la salida y puesta del sol y con trampas de luz a intervalos de cuatro a cinco horas por la noche, dependiendo de la disponibilidad de electricidad en la isla. Las larvas y pupas fueron recolectadas con diferentes metodologías según las características de los ambientes estudiados; en el agua libre se capturaron con tamices pequeños o pipetas y micropipetas, y en cuerpos de agua con vegetación se utilizó la técnica de flotación para separar los insectos de las hidrófitas flotantes y arraigadas. Se identificaron trece especies de Ceratopogonidae, 3 de Atrichopogon Kieffer, 3 de Forcipomyia Meigen, 2 de Dasyhelea Kieffer, 4 de Culicoides Latreille, y uno de Bezzia Kieffer, todos ellos representan nuevos registros para la isla.

Breeding sites of Culicoides pachymerus Lutz in the Magdalena River basin, Colombia

The breeding sites of Culicoides pachymerus are described for the first time in western Boyacá Province, Colombia, where this species is a public health problem. In addition to being a nuisance due to its enormous density and its high biting rates, C. pachymerus cause dermatological problems in the human population. Analysis of microhabitats by the sugar flotation technique and the use of emergence traps allowed us to recover 155 larvae of Culicoides spp and 65 adults of C. pachymerus from peridomiciliary muddy substrates formed by springs of water and constant rainwater accumulation. These important findings could aid in the design of integrated control meas-ures against this pest.

New records of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Peruvian Amazonian region / Novas ocorrências de Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) da Região Amazônica Peruana

Ten species of Culicoides Latreille are reported for the first time from Peruvian Departments of Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura and San Martin. The synonymy and distribution of the species in the New World are given.

Dez espécies de Culicoides Latreille são reportadas pela primeira vez para os departamentos peruanos de Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Piura e San Martin. A sinonímia e a distribuição das espécies para o novo mundo são fornecidas.

A new predaceous midge of the Palpomyia tibialis group from northeastern Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Palpomyia iberaensis n. sp., was collected by Malaise trap in the province of Corrientes, Argentina and its female and attached male genitalia are described and illustrated. The species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: females with dark brown legs except fore trochanter, basal 1/2 of fore femur, basal 2/3 of mid femur, fore and mid tibiae except extreme tip, yellowish brown; fore femur with four to five, mid femur with two ventral spines; abdomen lacking gland rods. Males with gonocoxite stout, with a conspicuous posteromesal pointed hook; gonostylus short, curved; parameres entirely divided, the distal portions slender with two posteriorly directed processes. This species is placed in the tibialis group in spite of the curious parameres without recurved tips. The species is compared with its congener Palpomyia mellichroa, from southeastern Brazil.

Se describe Palpomyia iberaensis n. sp., recolectada con trampa Malaise en Corrientes, Argentina, con base en una hembra que traía adheridos los órganos genitales del macho. Se ubica la especie en el grupo tibialis a pesar de tener parameros con puntas curvadas. Se compara la especie con su congénere brasileño Palpomyia mellichroa.

Estudo sobre os Ceratopogonídeos de Minas Gerais: I - Descrição dos machos de Heteromyia chaquensis Duret & Lane, 1955 e Dasyhelea paulistana Forattini & Rabello, 1957 (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) / Studies of Ceratopogonidade of Minas Gerais: I - Descriptions of the males of Heteromyia chaquensis Duret & Lane, 1955 and Dasyhelea paulistana Forattini & Rabello, 1957 (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae)

This paper describes some results of a systematic survey of the Ceratopogonidae midges of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three species, Stilobezzia punctulata Lane, 1947, Heteromyia chaquensis Duret & Lane, 1955 and Dasyhelea paulistana Forattini & Rabello, 1957 were identified from a small lake, "Lagoinha" or "Olhos d'Água", near to the main lake of Lagoa Santa. The first descriptions of the males of Heteromyia chaquensis and Dasyhelea paulistana are presented.