Catalog of the biting midges of Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Three hundred and fiftysix species of ceratopogonids in 35 genera are listed for Argentina, with most species in Forcipomyia Meigen (67 species) Culicoides Latreille (51 species), Stilobezzia Kieffer (40 species) and Dasyhelea Kieffer (37 species). For each listed species, the following information is included: sex and/or life stage described in the original description, type locality, type status and sex, depository of type material, distribution, georeferenced localities for Argentina (provinces are underlined) and main references that include the original description and those that specify locations in the country. Specific epithets of synonyms are accompanied by type locality, type status and sex, and location of type material. New localities from Argentina for 102 species are provided, and the following 16 species are newly recorded from the country: Forcipomyia (Caloforcipomyia) glauca Macfie, Forcipomyia (C.) hatoensis Utmar & Wirth, F. (Euprojoannisia) bromeliae Saunders, F. (E.) quasiingrami Macfie, F. (Forcipomyia) zonogaster Ingram & Macfie, F. (F.) catarinensis Marino & Spinelli, F. (Lasiohelea) cornuta Saunders, F. (Metaforcipomyia) osaensis Spinelli, Marino & Borkent, F. (Phytohelea) bromelicola (Lutz), F. (Trichohelea) goniognatha Wirth & Messersmith, F. (T.) leptognatha Wirth & Messersmith, Brachypogon (Brachypogon) woodruffi Spinelli & Grogan, Physohelea turgidipes Ingram & Macfie, Bezzia gibbera (Coquillett), Bezzia schmitzorum Dippolito & Spinelli and Palpomyia versicolor Macfie. Leptoconops brasiliensis (Lutz) and Clastrieromyia dycei Spinelli & Grogan are excluded from the Argentinean fauna.

New records of predaceous midges in Bezzia Kieffer and Phaenobezzia Haeselbarth from Mexico with description of two new species of Bezzia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Two new species of Bezzia Kieffer are described from Mexico, one in the gibbera group, B. (Bezzia) trujilloi sp. nov. from the state of Veracruz, and the other in the glabra group, B. (Homobezzia) breidenbaughi sp. nov. from Lagunas de Zempoala National Park nature reserve, state of Mexico. Two new country records of B. (Bezzia) mesotibialis Spinelli & Wirth from Veracruz and B. (Homobezzia) snowi Lane from Guerrero and Oaxaca, and the following new state records are also included: B. (B.) gibbera (Coquillett), B. (B.) hondurensis Spinelli & Wirth, B. (B.) punctipennis (Williston) from Veracruz; B. (H.) pulchripes Kieffer and Phaenobezzia maya Spinelli & Wirth from Yucatan; B. (H.) venustula (Williston) and Phaenobezzia fulvithorax (Malloch) from Guerrero; Phaenobezzia fulvithorax (Malloch) from Morelos and B. (H.) venustula (Williston) from Oaxaca. A key to Bezzia species from Mexico is also included.

A new species of Leptoconops Skuse from Argentina, description of the male of L. casali Cavalieri amp; Chiossone and a key to the Neotropical species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

A new species, Leptoconops (Proleptoconops) chacoensis, is described and photographed from a female collected in a forest area of the Chaco province, Argentina. This is the first record of the subgenus L. (Proleptoconops) Clastrier from the Neotropical region south of Mexico, and the new species is compared with L. (P.) werneri Wirth Atchley from southern USA and Mexico and L. (P.) aviarum from Tajikistan. Besides, the first description of the male of L. (Leptoconops) casali Cavalieri Chiossone is provided, from males collected associated with females in La Rioja and La Pampa provinces, Argentina, and this species is newly recorded from several areas of the country, significantly enlarging its geographical distribution. In addition, a key to Neotropical species of the genus is provided.

Five new species in the predaceous midge genus Macrurohelea Ingram amp; Macfie from Argentina, and descriptions of the previously unknown males of M. kuscheli Wirth and M. monotheca Spinelli amp; Grogan (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Five new Neotropical species in the predaceous midge genus Macrurohelea Ingram Macfie are described: M. bassoi, M. donatoi, M. morenoi, M. sirii, and M. ventanensis, n. spp. and the previously unknown males of M. kuscheli Wirth and M. monotheca Spinelli Grogan are described from specimens collected in several localities of Argentina and Chile. Illustrations and photomicrographs of key features of both sexes are provided as well as a key to all Neotropical species of Macrurohelea.

Redescription of immature stages of Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), vector of the Oropouche virus.

Oropouche fever is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by Oropouche virus (OROV). It has two distinct transmission cycles, with the anthropophilic biting midge Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) being the primary vector in the urban cycle. Species identification of Culicoides typically has been carried out on the basis of morphological characters, but molecular tools applied to taxonomy can provide rapid and efficient methods to the identification of vector species. The aim of this work was to obtain the first DNA barcode for C. paraensis collected in Argentina and redescribe the larvae and pupae of this species. Nested PCR amplification was applied in this study to increase the DNA amplification, because the material was preserved in alcohol 70% for a long period of time. The immature stages of C. paraensis are fully described from material collected in Misiones province, Argentina. Both stages are compared with their most similar congeners. This COI sequence complements the identification based on morphological characters and the values of genetic distance between the analysed species show that this sequence is useful to discriminate between species of the Culicoides genus.

New records of the predaceous midge genus Palpomyia from Mexico, with a new species in the Palpomyia distincta group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Palpomyia auakua, a new predaceous midge in the Palpomyia distincta group, is described and illustrated from females collected with Malaise trap in a cloud forest at 1470 m. in Tlanchinol, Hidalgo, Mexico. This new species is compared with three Neotropical species, Palpomyia paulistensis Lane and P. castanea Macfie from Brazil, and P. yamana Spinelli et al. from Tierra del Fuego, and its similar Nearctic species P. jamnbacki Grogan Wirth. Also included the first record of P. aspina Grogan Wirth from Mexico and Guatemala, and new records of P. subaspera (Coquillett) from Veracruz and Tabasco. A key to males and females of species of Palpomyia that inhabit Mexico is also included.

Two new species and new records of Neotropical Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The following two new species of biting midges of Culicoides Latreille are described and photographed: Culicoides carbonelli Spinelli Martínez from Uruguay, and C. dellapei Spinelli, Ronderos Díaz from Argentina. Culicoides crucifer Clastrier, 1968 and C. hoffmani Fox, 1946 are diagnosed and newly recorded from Argentina, and the studied specimens are photographed.

The immatures of three Neotropical species of Palpomyia Meigen (Diptera, Culicomorpha, Ceratopogonidae).

The first description of the fourth instar larva and pupa of Palpomyia mapuche Spinelli, Grogan & Ronderos and the pupa of P. subfuscula Ingram & Macfie are provided, as well as the redescription of the pupa of P. subaspera (Coquillett). Studied specimens were collected in lotic environments of Argentinian Patagonia, in Neuquén and Chubut Provinces. The described stages were examined and illustrated with a phase-contrast microscope. The larva was examined using a scanning electron microscope. Data on the bionomics for P. mapuche and new records for the three species are provided.

Significant reduction in abundance of peridomestic mosquitoes (Culicidae) and Culicoides midges (Ceratopogonidae) after chemical intervention in western São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the impact of two sand fly insecticide interventions (insecticide spraying and insecticide-impregnated dog collars) on the peridomestic abundance and distribution of mosquitoes (Culicidae) and biting midges (Ceratopogonidae) in western São Paulo (Brazil) in a long-term (42-month) evaluation. Both of these dipteran groups are vectors of diseases of medical and veterinary relevance to humans and domestic animals in Brazil. METHODS: The interventions in the 3-arm stratified randomised control trial were: pheromone + insecticide (PI) (chicken roosts were sprayed with microencapsulated lambda-cyhalothrin; pheromone lure has no effect on the Diptera pests studied here); dog-collars (DC) (dogs fitted with deltamethrin-impregnated collars); and control (C) (unexposed to pyrethroids) were extended by 12 months. During that time, adult mosquitoes and midges were sampled along 280 households at three household locations (inside human dwellings, dog sleeping sites and chicken roosts). RESULTS: We collected 3145 culicids (9 genera, 87.6% Culex spp.) distributed relatively uniformly across all 3 arms: 41.9% at chicken roosts; 37.7% inside houses; and 20.3% at dog sleeping sites. We collected 11,464 Culicoides (15 species) found mostly at chicken roosting sites (84.7%) compared with dog sleeping sites (12.9%) or houses (2.4%). Mosquitoes and Culicoides were most abundant during the hot and rainy season. Increased daytime temperature was marginally associated with increased mosquito abundance (Z = 1.97, P = 0.049) and Culicoides abundance (Z = 1.71, P = 0.087). There was no significant association with daily average rainfall for either group. Household-level mosquito and midge numbers were both significantly reduced by the PI intervention 56% [incidence rate ratio, IRR = 0.54 (95% CI: 0.30-0.97), P ≤ 0.05] and 53% [IRR = 0.47 (95% CI: 0.26-0.85), P ≤ 0.05], respectively, compared to the control intervention. The abundance of both dipteran groups at dog sleeping sites was largely unaffected by the PI and DC interventions. The PI intervention significantly reduced abundance of mosquitoes inside houses (41%) and at chicken roosting sites (48%) and reduced midge abundance by 51% in chicken roosting sites. CONCLUSIONS: Sprayed insecticide at chicken roosting sites reduced the abundance of mosquitoes and midges at the peridomestic level while dog collars had no effect on numbers for any group.

Floral Odors and the Interaction between Pollinating Ceratopogonid Midges and Cacao.

Most plant species depend upon insect pollination services, including many cash and subsistence crops. Plants compete to attract those insects using visual cues and floral odor which pollinators associate with a reward. The cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, has a highly specialized floral morphology permitting pollination primarily by Ceratopogonid midges. However, these insects do not depend upon cacao flowers for their life cycle, and can use other sugar sources. To understand how floral cues mediate pollination in cacao we developed a method for rearing Ceratopogonidae through several complete lifecycles to provide material for bioassays. We carried out collection and analysis of cacao floral volatiles, and identified a bouquet made up exclusively of saturated and unsaturated, straight-chain hydrocarbons, which is unusual among floral odors. The most abundant components were tridecane, pentadecane, (Z)-7-pentadecene and (Z)-8-heptadecene with a heptadecadiene and heptadecatriene as minor components. We presented adult midges, Forcipomyia sp. (subgen. Forcipomyia), Culicoides paraensis and Dasyhelea borgmeieri, with natural and synthetic cacao flower odors in choice assays. Midges showed weak attraction to the complete natural floral odor in the assay, with no significant evidence of interspecific differences. This suggests that cacao floral volatiles play a role in pollinator behavior. Midges were not attracted to a synthetic blend of the above four major components of cacao flower odor, indicating that a more complete blend is required for attraction. Our findings indicate that cacao pollination is likely facilitated by the volatile blend released by flowers, and that the system involves a generalized odor response common to different species of Ceratopogonidae.

The Biting Midges of the Caribbean island Curaçao (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Species in the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer.

We document the first records of biting midges in the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Curaçao: Dasyhelea azteca Huerta & Grogan, D. bahamensis (Johnson), D. cincta (Coquillett), D. corinneae Gosseries, D. flavifrons (Guérin-Méneville) and D. grisea (Coquillett). The following six new species of Dasyhelea are described from this Caribbean island and their key features are presented in color photographs and illustrations: D. aliciae n. sp., D. recurva n. sp., D. latiala n. sp., D. rhopaloparamera n. sp., D. cyrtostyla n. sp., and D. curacaoensis n. sp. We also provide a key to males and females of all known species of Dasyhelea from Curaçao.

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

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.

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.

A distinctive new species of biting midge in the subgenus Euprojoannisia Brèthes from Mexico with new records of Neotropical species of Forcipomyia Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

A new species of biting midge, Forcipomyia (Euprojoannisia) bibaana, is described and illustrated from an adult male collected in the state Oaxaca, Mexico. The first records of Forcipomyia (E.) mortuifolii Saunders, F. (Lasiohelea) cornuta Saunders and F. (L.) stylifer (Lutz) are provided from Mexico as well as the first record of F. (L.) anitae Huerta & Ibáñez-Bernal from Guatemala.

Description of fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia.

The fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone are described for the first time. The immatures were collected from stream margins in the northern Brazilian states Rondônia and Piauí, and subsequently reared to adults. Larvae and pupae are illustrated and photomicrographed. Details on the rearing process and feeding behavior in laboratory, bionomics and notes on habitats are also provided.

The Neotropical species of the predaceous midge genus Austrohelea Wirth & Grogan (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Two new Neotropical species of the predaceous midge genus Austrohelea Wirth & Grogan, A. sirii n. sp. and A. spinosa n. sp., and the previously known A. shannoni (Wirth & Blanton) are described, illustrated and photomicrographs provided of male and female specimens collected from several localities in Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. The similarities and differences between the three Neotropical species are discussed, and a key is provided of the males and females of these three species. The distribution of A. shannoni is extended to the southernmost region of South America.

Description of fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

ABSTRACT The fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone are described for the first time. The immatures were collected from stream margins in the northern Brazilian states Rondônia and Piauí, and subsequently reared to adults. Larvae and pupae are illustrated and photomicrographed. Details on the rearing process and feeding behavior in laboratory, bionomics and notes on habitats are also provided.

The biting and predaceous midges of Guadeloupe (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). II. Species of the subfamily Dasyheleinae.

We provide descriptions, photographs and illustrations of 13 new species and new records of eight other species of biting midges in the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer from Guadeloupe. Included are the first Guadeloupe records of D. bermudae Wirth & Williams, D. caribbeana Spinelli & Wirth, D. cincta (Coquillett), D. flavifrons (Guérin-Méneville), D. grisea (Coquillett), D. griseola Wirth, D. luteogrisea Wirth & Williams and D. pseudoincisurata Waugh & Wirth. The previously unknown male of D. caribbeana is described and illustrated, and, a key is provided for the 24 species of Dasyhelea known from Guadeloupe.

A new species of the predaceous midge genus Brachypogon Kieffer from the Neotropical Region and first description of the female of Brachypogon (Isohelea) cuacuahuitlus Huerta & Borkent (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The predaceous midge genus Brachypogon Kieffer is presently known in Mexico by Brachypogon (Brachypogon) fuscivenosus (Lutz, 1914), B. (B.) bimaculatus Spinelli & Grogan, 1998, B. (B.) woodruffi Spinelli & Grogan, 1998 and B. (Isohelea) cuacuahuitlus Huerta & Borkent, 2005. In this contribution a new species, Brachypogon (Brachypogon) ginue, is described and illustrated from a male specimen collected in Tlanchinol, State of Hidalgo, Mexico. This new species belongs to the impar species group. The first description of the female of Brachypogon (Isohelea) cuacuahuitlus Huerta & Borkent is also provided.

Two new species of the subgenus Acanthohelea of Stilobezzia from Brazilian Amazonia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The predaceous genus Stilobezzia Kieffer is a large, diverse group of Ceratopogonidae that is worldwide in distribution except for Antarctica and some islands (Borkent 2014). Adult females are important predators on other small insects, and the immature stages are found in a wide variety of aquatic and semiaquatic habitats, including streams, lakes and pond margins, puddles, swamps, rice fields, rock pools, and tree holes (de Meillon and Wirth 1991; Cazorla et al. 2006).