[First description of the Prosimulium candicans Rubzov, 1956 males (Diptera: Simuliidae)].

First description of the previously unknown Prosimulium candicans males is given. Belonging of this species to the genus Prosimulium Roubaud, 1906 rather than to the genus Taeniopterna Enderlein, 1925 is confirmed.

[A new blackfly species Montisimulium birzhankolum Yankovsky, Isakaev et Khasanova, sp. n. (Diptera: Simuliidae) from northeastern Kazakhstan].

A new species of blackflies, Montisimulium birzhankolum Yankovsky, Isakaev et Khasanova, sp. n., is described from male, female, and pupa specimens collected in Pavlodar Province of Northeastern Kazakhstan. The new species differs from all other species of the genus Montisimulium by morphology of pupal gills.

[On the fauna of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Iran].

Collections of blacfklies from Iran have been examined; four species were recorded. Three new species are described--Tetisimulium iranicum sp. n., Wilhelmia lurestanica sp. n., and Crosskeyellum zagros sp. n. Presence of Tetisimulium coarctatum (Rubzov, 1940) in Iran is confirmed.

[Additions to the fauna of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Altai Republic].

Fauna of blackflies from the Altai Republic was investigated, four species were recorded. One new species, Sulcicnephia stekolnikovi sp. n., is described. Two species are for the first time reported from Western Siberia.

[Morphology of the blackfly species group macropyga of the genus Prosimulium roubaud, 1906, and re-establishment of the generic name Taeniopterna Enderlein, 1925 for this group (Diptera: Simuliidae)].

The genus Taeniopterna with the types species Melusina macropyga Lundstrom, 1911 was proposed by Enderlein in 1925. Later this taxon was considered as the species group macropyga in the genus Prosimulium Roubaud, 1906 by many authors (Rubzov, 1956; Crosskey et Howard, 1997; Adler et al., 2004, and others). However, differences between this group and the remaining species of Prosimulium s. str. (species group hirtipes/mixtum) seem to be not lesser, than those between other genera (or subgenera) of the tribe Prosimuliini (in our sense), namely Helodon Enderlein, 1921, Urosimulium Contini, 1963, Parahelodon Peterson, 1970, and Distosimulium Peterson, 1970. Taeniopterna differs from other genera of Prosimuliini by the following characters. Imago differs from all other genera in having shortened proboscic (1.5 times shorter than clypeus, while in other genera it is of the same length with clypeus). It differs from all genera except Helodon in having relatively prolonged and lightly pointed distally wings (in other genera wings are wide and rounded distally). Male differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Urosimulium, in having narrow frons between the eyes. It differs from the Urosimulium male by conic gonostyles (in Urosimulium gonostyles bear the large heel). Female differs from all other genera of tribe by very small spermatheca (1/3-1/5 of the lenght of the branch of genital fork (while in other genera spermatheca is equal or longer, than the branch of genital fork) and by the absence of serration on maxillae and mandibles. Female also differs from other genera of the tribe, except Prosimulium, by very long hypogynal valves and by missing or very small and pressed basal tooth of claws (in Helodon, Urosimulium, Parahelodon, and Distosimulium hypogynal valves are short and rounded, basal tooth of claws is moderate or large and put aside). It differs from Prosimulium by smaller head (more narrow than thorax, while in Prosimulium head is near equal by width with thorax) and by absence of sclerotization on the medial edges of hypogynal valves. Larva differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Prosimulium, in having long dorsoventral projections of wide sclerotized band of prothorax (in other genera this band is narrow and without projections). It differs from Prosimulium by another pattern of the hypostomal teeth. Pupa differs from all other genera of the tribe, except Distosimulium, by cocoon covering all the pupal body (in other genera cocoon covers only posterior part of the pupal body). It differs from Distosimulium by long and strong caudal thorns (in Distosimulium caudal thorns are of moderate length and more thin). These and some other characters give the base for the proposition to consider the species group macropyga as a a separate genus Taeniopterna Enderlein, 1925. A list of Taeniopterna species is given.

[Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Genera Hellichiella Rivosecchi et Cardinali, 1975 and Boreosimulium Rubzov et Yankovsky, 1982].

The genus name Boreosimulium Rubzov et Yankovsky, 1982 was considered for a long time as a junior synonym of the genus name Hellichiella Rivosecchi et Cardinali, 1975. The status of Boreosimulium as a separate generic (or subgeneric) name has been confirmed in the monograph by Adler, Currie and Wood (2004). In the present paper the indentification keys for the Boreosimulium and Hellichiella (subfam. Simuliinae) species are given. Also the keys for the genera Stegopterna Enderlein, 1930 and Greniera Doby et David, 1959 (subfam. Prosimuliinae) being similar in some characters to the above genera are provided. The lists of species of these genera, together with their distribution ranges (according to the data obtained to the end of 2004) are added.

[5 new species of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Siberia, the Far East and Central Asia]. / Piat' novykh vidov moshek (Diptera: Simuliidae) iz Sibiri, Dal'nego Vostoka i Srednei Azii.

Five new species of the family Simuliidae Stegopterna byrrangii Yankovsky, sp. n. and Cnephia chaurensis Yankovsky sp. n., from Taimyr peninsula, Metacnephia olyutorii Yankovsky sp. n. from Kamchatka, Metacnephia karakechensis Yankovsky sp. n. and Montisimulium sonkulense Yankovsky sp. n. from Kirghizia, are described. Stegopterna byrrangii differs from related species: in male--from all known species of the genus by peculiar form of apical end of gonostyles, when apical spine is approximately parallel to inner surface of gonostyle; in female--from all known species of the genus by very long genital lobes (their length twice more than width), from S. longicoxa Rubzov, 1971 and S. duodecimata (Rubzov, 1940) by long stem of genital fork, absence of anterolateral sclerotized projections of branches of genital fork; in pupa--from all known species of the genus by number of filaments of respiratory organ (14-16, when in other species no more than 12). Cnephia chaurensis differs from related species: in male--from C. intermedia Rubzov, 1956 and C. toptchievi Yankovsky, 1996 by absence of medial projection or ridge of gonosternum, from C. intermedia by widened body of gonosternum, from C. toptchievi by ridge on gonocoxites and wide triangular projections near base of arms of gonosternum; in female--from C. intermedia by sclerotized finger-like anterolateral projections of branches of genital fork, subdivision of branches into two lobes, wide flat apical end of stem of genital fork. Metacnephia karakechensis differs from related species: in male--from M. subalpina (Rubzov, 1956) by form of gonostyles, absence of triangular medial projection of gonosternum, short widened gonofurca and more number of spines in parameres, from M. kirjanovae (Rubzov, 1956) and M. slepjani (Rubzov, 1967) by triangular body of gonosternum, widened gonostyles, more number of spines in parameres; in larva--from M. subalpina by more number of rays of primary fan of premandibles, less number of ridges of hooks in posterior attachment organ, from M. kirjanovae by short thick antennae; in pupa--from M. subalpina by character of divergence of upper thick filaments of respiratory organ, from M. kirjanovae by presence of thick filaments of the organ. Metacnephia olyutorii differs from related species: in female--from M. larunae Worobez, 1984 and M. aldanica Worobez, 1987 by thick sclerotized anterolateral projections of branches of genital fork, from M. taimyrica Patrusheva, 1976 by 1-ended (not 3-ended) anterolateral projections of branches of genital fork, large (not shortened) anal lobes, from M. crassifistula (Rubzov, 1956) by very long stem of genital fork. Montisimulium sonkulense differs from related species: in male--from M. brachystylum (Rubzov, 1976) by more prolonged gonostyles, less number of spines of parameres, from M. ocreastylum (Rubzov, 1956) by form of gonostyles, from M. odontostylum (Rubzov, 1947) by more number of spines of parameres; in female--from M. brachystylum and M. odontostylum by stricktly developed posteromedial projections of branches of genital fork, from species having posteromedical projections of branches of genital fork--from M. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

[4 new species of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East]. / Chetyre novykh vida moshek (Diptera: Simuliidae) iz Srednei Azii, Sibiri i Dal'nego Vostoka.

Four new species of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are described. Helodon rezidentsii Yankovsky, sp. n., Khabarovsk Territory, differs from all known species of the genus with morphology of eyes consisting only of microommatidii in male; from related species H. kamtshaticus (Rubzov, 1940) with large triangular posteromedial lobes of branches of genital fork in female; with number of rays of primary fan of premandibles (20-22, when in H. kamtshaticus 30-32) in larva. Helodon submulticaulis Yankovsky, sp. n., Transbaikalia, differs from related species H. multicaulis (Popov, 1968) with number of rays of primary fan of mandibles (36-40, when in H. multicaulis 26-28), narrow anterior branches of anal sclerite, number of rows of hooks in posterior attachment organ (88-92, when in H. multicaulis 78-80) in larva; with morphology of respiratory organ, consisting of 5-8 lobes bearing 40-60 tune filaments (in H. multicaulis 3-4 lobes bearing more than 150 filaments) in pupa. Sch. samarkandica Yankovsky, sp. n., Uzbekistan, differs from related species Sch. pseudopusilla Rubzov, 1956 with 3 (not 2 as in Sch. pseudopusilla) hooks in parameres, bifurcated lateral branches of X sternite, long projection of gonostyles in male. Schoenbaueria ivdelensis Yankovsky, sp. n., Middle Ural, differs from related species Sch. rangiferina (Rubzov, 1956) with prolonged gonostyles bearing narrow projection in male; with number of rays of secondary fan of premandibles (20-28, when in Sch. rangiferina 44-48), deep ventral groove of cephalic capsule, number of rows of hooks in posterior attachment organ (80-82, when in Sch. rangiferina 70-72) in larva; with morphology of respiratory organ (very long stems of 2 and 3 pairs of filaments) in pupa.

[Synonymy of generic and homonymy of species names for palearctic black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae)]. / K sinonimii rodovykh i gomonimii vidovykh nazvanii palearkticheskikh moshek (Diptera: Simuliidae).

Some changes in the synonymy of several generic names are given (Ahaimophaga Chubareva, 1978 = Helodon Enderlein, 1921; Haimophaga Rubzov et Yankovsky, 1984 = Helodon, Enderlein, 1921; Astega Enderlein, 1930 = Cnephia Enderlein, 1921; Boreosimulium Rubsov et Yankovsky, 1982 = Hellichiella Rivosecchi et Cardinali, 1975; Odagmia Enderlein, 1921 = Simulium Latreille, 1802; Gnus Rubsov, 1940 = Simulium Latreille, 1802). For 18 preoccupied species names (junior homonyms) the new replacing names are proposed (alajensis Rubzov. 1972 = dubitskii. nom. n.: bicorne Dumbleton, 1973 = crosbyi, nom. n.; borealis Malloch, 1919 = arctocanadensis, nom. n.; chelevini Ivashchenko, 1978 = ivashchenkoi, nom. n.; decafile Rubzov, 1976 = decafiliatum, nom. n.; frontatus Yankovsky, 1982 = boreopacificus, nom. n.; fulvipes Ono, 1978 = onoi, nom. n.; fuscum Rubzov, 1963 = fuscatum, nom. n.; hibernale Rubsov, 1967 = lugense, nom. n.; intermedia Rubzov, 1956 = orenburgica, nom. n.; jacuticum, Rubzov, 1973 = tiksiense, nom. n.; kamtshaticum Rubzov, 1940 = kamtshadalicum, nom. n.; latitarsus Rubzov, 1971 = mongolense, nom. n.; minutum Rubzov, 1959 = minuticorpus, nom. n.; rheophilum Tan et Chow, 1976 = tanetchowi, nom. n.; sedecimfistulata Rubzov, 1976 = dzhungarica, nom. n.; septentrionale Tan et Chow, 1976 = chowettani, nom. n.; tenuitarsus Rubzov, 1969 = chovdica, nom. n.).

[Systematics of black flies of the genus Phoretodagmia Rubzov]. / K sistematike moshek roda Phoretodagmia Rubzov.

A key for identification of species of the genus Phoretodagmia is given. Lectotype and paralectotypes of the species Ph. ephemerophila (Rubzov) are designated. The species name obicumbensis Rubzov is considered as a junior synonym of the species name ephemerophila (Rubzov).

[New species of blackfly Wilhelmia talassica sp. n. (Diptera, Simuliidae) from Kirghizia]. / Novyi vid moshek Wilhelmia talassica sp. n. (Diptera, Simuliidae) iz Kirgizii.

A new species of black flies, Wilhelmia talassica Yankovsky, sp. n., is described from northwestern Kirgisia.

[The relationship between the population count of black fly larvae and pupae (Simuliidae) in bodies of water and the number of attacking females]. / Zavisimosti mezhdu chislennost'iu lichinok i kukolok moshek (Simuliidae) v vodoemakh i kolichestvom napadaiushchikh samok.

Species of black flies, which develop in abundance in water bodies of Lower Priamurje and are potentially capable of bloodsucking, have not been registered near the blood donors. Only a few number of species developing in water attack for bloodsucking that apparently depends on unfavourable conditions of the larval development. A part of emerging females do not possess sufficient nourishing resources for completion of their gonotrophic cycle and need an additional bloodsucking. Of 35 registered species (27 of them possess morphological devices for bloodsucking) only 11 species attack. 4 species (Byssodon maculata ussuriana, Gnus malyshevi albipes, G. pavlovskii, Prosimulium ex gr. hirtipes) are mass bloodsuckers.