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Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 99, No. 5, August, 2004, pp. 443-470 Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Southern Guyana with Keys for the Identification of Adults and Pupae - A Review AJ Shelley/+, LM Hernández, JB Davies* The Natural History
Museum, Department of Entomology, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK *Liverpool
School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK Received 12 January
2004 Code Number: oc04101 A revision is made of the previously poorly studied blackfly fauna from the south-western border of Guyana with Brazil. Notes on the biosystematics of the species found are provided, together with keys and illustrations based on their morphology. Of the 14 species recorded, eight are anthropophilic and two of these (Simulium oyapockense s.l. and S. guianense s.l.) are proven vectors of human onchocerciasis in the nearby Amazonia focus of the disease in neighbouring Brazil. Key words: blackflies - Simuliidae - Neotropical region - taxonomy - Guyana There have been few studies on the Simuliidae in Guyana and all those that have been made involve the border area with Brazil in the Rupununi District. This has largely been due to the lack of simuliids in the swampy coastal regions, the difficulty of access to the interior of the country and the lack of any pathogenic parasites transmitted by these insects. It was in Guyana (then British Guiana) at the end of the last century that relatively non pathogenic, blood inhabiting microfilariae were sent by Dr Ozzard to Manson, who described them as the new species Mansonella ozzardi. It was soon discovered that this filarial species was common in the Caribbean Islands where the vectors were species of Culicoides midges. Eighty years later the discovery of simuliids as vectors of M. ozzardi in Brazil and Colombia (reviewed in Shelley & Coscarón 2001) prompted the work of Nathan et al. (1982), who discovered that Simulium oyapockense s.l. is a vector of M. ozzardi in the Rupununi District of Guyana. At the beginning of the twentieth century studies on anthropophilic Diptera were numerous because of their biting nuisance and, in the case of mosquitoes, their proven role as vectors of pathogenic species of protozoal parasites. The first attempt at study of the Simuliidae in Guyana was made by the government Surgeon General at Georgetown, KS Wise. He had been sent man-biting simuliids by Melville from the upper branches of the Essequibo river (R) (the Rupununi and Siparuni R) and also examined specimens of two species from the same area in the Museum of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana in Georgetown. Wise (1911) provided a redescription for one of the species known as the "pium" in Brazil [by the Macuxi indians] and the "cabouri" fly by the Arawak indians in Guyana, and which had already been described in Brazil [by Lutz] as S. amazonicum. This species is not S. amazonicum but S. oyapockense s. l., a species later described in the 1940s from French Guiana (Shelley et al. 1997) and also known in Brazil as the "pium". Wise described the other species as new, S. guianense, which the local indians referred to as the itanimi fly to distinguish it from the smaller pium or cabouri fly. In 1915 Knab described the anthropophilic female, sent to him by Dr Wise from the same area, as the new species S. limbatum. At a time when it was considered that any development of the interior of the country would need to take account of blackfly control, Drs OW Richards and J Smart visited Guyana in 1937. They recorded seven simuliid species from this country and published taxonomic notes and a key to these, as well as other species collected from the Lesser Antilles (Smart 1940). The seven species from Guyana were: S. amazonicum (= S. oyapockense s.l.), S. guianense (= S. perplexum), S. haematopotum (= S. oyapockense s.l.), S. limbatum, S. lutzianum (= S. kabanayense), S. rubrithorax (= S. maroniense s.l.), S. sanguineum (= S. oyapockense s.l.). It is now known that these names represent only five distinct species as indicated in brackets. In most cases the misidentifications are completely understandable because at this time many species were poorly defined morphologically. However, an obvious lapse occurred with pupae identified as S. rubrithorax (with eight gill filaments), which are S. maroniense s.l. (with 18-22 gill filaments). Similarly, the naming of three pupal exuviae (in BMNH collection) as S. lutzianum s.l. (with eight gill filaments) was incorrect as the specimens have 10-13 filaments and are of a species later described as S. kabanayense (Ramírez Pérez & Vulcano 1973). These three specimens were not referred to in the taxonomic discussion of S. lutzianum s.l. in Shelley et al. (1997) because they were known not to be of this species but were not identified at the time. In 1989b Shelley et al. described the new species S. perplexum based on specimens identified by Smart (1940) as S. guianense Wise. The collections by the third author, which have been the most comprehensive for the country, were made in the 1970s when the development of the Rupununi savanna for tourism was being contemplated. One of the constraints to this development was the presence of large numbers of anthropophilic simuliids. This work was necessary for the development of studies on the biology of and a pilot control project for S. limbatum (as S. in-crustatum) and S. oyapockense s.l. (as S. amazonicum/S. sanguineum, S. amazonicum or S. sanguineum complexes) (Humphrys et al. 1977, Rambajan 1981a, b). At this time the taxonomy of the Simuliidae of this region of Latin America was relatively unknown, and it was not until the finding of onchocerciasis in the Brazil-Venezuela Amazonia focus some 400km to the west of the Rupununi District that comprehensive taxonomic studies began. This paper, based on holdings at the Natural History Museum, London (BMNH) mainly including the specimens of Wise, Knab, Smart, and the third author, provides the first modern review of the Simuliidae of Guyana, albeit limited to the south-western frontier area of the country with Brazil. Illustrated keys to the adults and pupae of the 14 species of Guyana are presented, together with biosystematic notes for each species and a list of material examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS Collections were made in 1970 and 1975 in three savanna areas of the Rupununi District on the western border of Guyana with the state of Roraima Brazil (Map). Two are situated in highland areas (400-450 m) around Orinduik on the R Ireng and Kato on the R Chiung, and the other farther south in a more lowland area (145 m) around Lethem on the R Takutu. Rivers, streams (creeks) and drainage channels in these areas were prospected for immature stages of simuliids from which mature pupae were selected and reared to adults, and man-biting females were also collected. Standard techniques for capture, dissection and conservation of material have already been described in Shelley et al. (1997). All material has been deposited in the Department of Entomology of the BMNH. Time constraints have meant that only reared and man-biting specimens have been used in this paper and they are listed under Material Examined. These data, together with all the original collecting data, are stored at the NHM on a CD. Further material has been examined from Clemson University Arthropod Collection, Clemson University, South Carolina, US (CUAC), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil (Inpa) and the Institut Pasteur, Paris, France (IP). Figures of simuliid morphology have been obtained from a Synoptics image capture system as detailed in Shelley et al. (2000). Identification of material has been largely based on papers describing the Venezuelan fauna (Ramírez Pérez 1983) and the Brazilian Amazonia onchocerciasis focus fauna (Shelley et al. 1997), as well as the papers cited in the text. Recent publications from neighbouring French Guiana (Hamada & Fouque 2001) and Venezuela and Brazil (Hamada & Grillet 2001) also provide an insight into simuliid species that may be present in Guyana if more comprehensive surveys are to be carried out in the future. CHECKLIST OF THE SIMULIIDAE OF GUYANA Crosskey and Howard's world inventory of the Simuliidae (1997) records 13 species of simulids from Guyana: S. cauchense, exiguum s.l., guianense s.l., haematopotum, incrustatum, limbatum, oyapockense s.l., perflavum, perplexum, pulverulentum, quadrifidum, rorotaense, and S. rubrithorax. Since this publication the taxonomy of the species of the Amazon and surroundings has advanced and so the following comments can be made. The records of S. rubrithorax Lutz and S. haematopotum Malloch date back to Smart (1940). Their correct identifications (see Shelley et al. 1997, 2002) are S. maroniense s.l. Floch & Abonnenc and S. oyapockense s.l. Floch & Abonnenc, respectively. Simulium pul-verulentum Knab was based on a record in Vulcano (1981), but Shelley et al. (2002) in their revision of this species discounted its presence in Guyana based on lack of information on specimens and the known distribution of this species. The record for S. incrustatum Lutz refers to the closely related S. limbatum Knab (see Shelley et al. 1997 for morphological diagnoses). The origin of the record of S. exiguum Roubaud cannot be traced, but the present work confirms its presence in the area studied (see Material Examined). Also S. rorotaense should read as S. maroniense s.l. Consequently, prior to the present paper only nine simuliid species had been reliably recorded from Guyana. The 14 species now known from the country are listed in alphabetical order by subgenera and by species within each subgenus. Five species, S. clarki, S. kabanayense, S. lutzianum s.l., S. spinibranchium, and S. subpallidum represent new country records. Species marked with an asterisk bite man. Simulium (Chirostilbia) spinibranchium Lutz,
1910 * [It is probable that the anthropophilic species S. roraimense Nunes de Mello, 1974, also exists in Guyana - See "Notes on the Biosystematics of Species" under S. oyapockense s.l.] KEYS TO THE SIMULIIDAE OF GUYANA Morphological characters that are usually observed in un-dissected material were used wherever possible. Scutal patterns described are those seen in specimens placed with their bodies parallel to the microscope stage and with the fibre optic light source immediately in front of the head of the specimen. For the effects of light source direction on scutal patterns see Shelley et al. (1997). Where a species complex occurs the species name is followed by s.l. [sensu lato]. S. kabanayense was only found in Guyana as pupae and consequently this species has not been included in the adult keys. A description of these stages in this orange species is found in Ramírez Pérez and Vulcano (1973). FEMALES 1. Thorax orange
.................2 2 . Thoracic pattern
consisting of four, wide, faintly pruinose longitudinal lines; lateral scutal
borders greyish (Fig. 2) .......................................................................................................subpallidum (orange
form) 3. Humeri orange
or yellowish, never pruinose (Fig.10). Paraprocts
sub-quadrangular (Fig. 21).................. lutzianum
s.l. 4. Abdominal tergites
shiny black, first two segments silver pruinose ...................................maroniense
s.l. 5. Scutum without
pattern...................................................6 6. Scutum with
groups of silvery gold setae appearing green in some lights and arranged
in lines diverging from median line (Fig.
5). Nudiocular area absent (Fig. 27) .............................................................exiguum
s.l. 7. Scutal setae
arranged irregularly in groups in anterior two thirds and densely and individually
on posterior third (Fig. 13). Basal section
of radius of wing with single row of setae (Fig.
32). Claws of hind leg without basal teeth (Fig.
34). Paraproct broadly quadrangular with small, internal, membranous
extension including anterior tail-like projection (Fig.
24); genital fork with distal ends of lateral arms well developed with
small anterior processes (Fig. 40) ...............guianense
s.l. 8. Scutal pattern
largely black with 1+1 sub-median, posteriorly diverging, silver pruinose
lines of varying length (Figs 4, 6, 7)......................................................................................
9 9. Nudiocular area
absent (Fig. 28). Cibarium armed with blunt
tubercles (Fig. 45)..........................................cauchense 10. Cibarial teeth
present along anterior margin, including median protuberance, cornuae well
developed (Fig. 44). Paraproct well developed,
extending beyond ventral edge of cercus by length of cercus (Fig.
17)............................clarki 11. Scutal pattern
composed of black and silver, longitudinal pruinose areas in almost equal
proportions (Figs 8, 9). Cibarium armed with
teeth or blunt tubercles (Figs 47, 48). Paraprocts
poorly developed with little extension beyond ventral surface of cercus (Figs
19, 20)...........................................................................12 12. Cibarium with
rows of sharp teeth along anterior margin (Fig.
47). Genital fork lightly sclerotised with poorly developed terminations
to lateral arms (Fig. 38)........................................oyapockense
s.l. 13. Scutum with
1+1 longitudinal, sub-median bands wide and diverging anteriorly (Fig.
1); scutellum greyish black. Hind legs with distal part of femora yellow
and of tibiae dark brown (Fig. 36)...............................................spinibranchium MALES 1.Thorax orange
.......................................................2 2. Scutum with
1+1 large, silver pruinose patches on anterior third of scutum beginning
at anterior margin [best seen when specimen tilted] (Fig.
50). Gonostyle sub-triangular with no terminal spine, shorter than gonocoxite
(Fig. 66); ventral plate wider than long with
poorly developed keel and basal arms (Fig. 79)...................................... subpallidum (orange
form) 3. Keel of ventral
plate slightly developed (Fig. 86). Legs distinctly
dark brown except for most of basitarsi of mid and hind legs, which are yellow
(Fig. 93)........................................................ lutzianum
s.l. 4. Keel of ventral
plate with upright hairs (Fig. 87). Sc of
wing with setae (see Fig. 32 for location
of vein Sc on wing) .....................................................................................maroniense
s.l. 5. Scutum without
pattern ................................................6 6. Scutum with
setae short and arranged in small packets or groups (Figs
53, 64) .....................................7 7. Gonostyle conical
and shorter than gonocoxite (Fig. 68); ventral
plate wider than long with triangular keel and reduced basal arms (Fig.
81) ...................................................exiguum s.l. 8. Paramere with
poorly developed spines (Fig. 91) .....................................cauchense 9. Scutal pattern
in anterior third of scutum consisting of 1+1 divergent, well defined, sub-median
cunae or vittae (Figs 55-57, 59). Ventral
plate sub-triangular or arcuate (Figs 82-85)
..............................10 10. Scutum with
sub-median cunae (Figs 56, 57). Gonostyle
sub-quandrangular or conical with central or terminal spine and considerably
shorter than gonocoxite (Figs 70, 71) ....................................11 11. Sub-median
cunae each with smaller black cuna within (Fig.
56). Gonostyle sub-quadrangular with central spine (Fig.
70) ...................................................limbatum 12. Paramere with
poorly developed spines (Fig. 91) ..................................................cauchense 13. Scutal pattern
consisting of thick black median vitta extending for three fourths scutal
length and 1+1 lateral, wide, black vittae in middle portion of scutum (Fig.
63). Gonostyle conical with terminal spine and twice as long as gonocoxite
(Fig. 76); ventral plate H-shaped with central
promininence (Fig. 89) .........................................guianense
s.l. 14. Scutal pattern
of 1+1, sub-median, broad, white pruinose bands on anterior scutal margin
(Fig. 52). Gonostyle conical with terminal
spine, shorter than gonocoxite (Fig. 67);
ventral plate triangular (Fig. 80)....................................... clarki 15. Gonostyle sub-quadrangular,
less than half as long as gonocoxite (Fig. 65)
.................................spinibranchium PUPAE 1. Gill with 4
to 8 filaments .............................................2 2. Gill with 4
filaments ....................................................3 3.Primary branching
of gill in vertical plane; gill branch bifurcations usually not at same level
at mid point of gill (Fig. 100). Abdominal
tergite V without spines or spines combs .............................................................cauchense 4. Gill with 6
filaments ...................................................5 5. Gill approximately
half length of pupa (gill length - =
1.0 mm, range 0.8-1.5 mm, n = 10; pupa length - = 1.9 mm, range 1.5-2.1 mm,
n = 10*), with basal branching and
gill trunk dividing into three primary branches (Fig.
102) .........................................................................................oyapockense
s.l. 6. Gill slightly
longer than pupa (gill length - =
3.3 mm, range 2.4-4.1 mm, n =10; pupa length - = 2.9 mm, range 2.2-3.5 mm,
n = 10); gill branching basal and
gill trunk dividing into three primary branches (Fig.
98) ...........................clarki 7. Gill filaments
broadest at base and becoming progressively finer towards tip, thereby resembling
stag's antler (Fig. 96) .........................................................................spinibranchium 8. Gill filaments
arranged in bunch with all secondary branches arising very near gill base
(Fig. 108) .................perflavum 9. Gill trunk bifurcating
near base (Fig. 104).................................................lutzianum
s.l. 10. Cocoon with
closely meshed fibres (Fig. 113). Trichomes
of frontoclypeus bifid to 5-branched and tubercles sparsely distributed (Fig.
115) ....................................................subpallidum 11. Gill with 10-14
filaments (Figs 105, 106, 109,
111)............................................... 12 12. Gill with
10-14 long, fine filaments rounded apically; gill trunk branching basally
into 10 primary branches, some of which may have secondary bifurcations (Figs
105, 106).................................................... kabanayense 13. Gill filaments with annulations
on distal part of gill less accentuated with spicules (Fig.
110).................. guianense s.l. *data from Shelley et al. (1997) NOTES ON THE BIOSYSTEMATICS OF SPECIES Simulium (Chirostilbia) spinibranchium Lutz This species is dealt with in Coscarón (1991), Py-Daniel & Shelley (1980) and Shelley et al. (2000). It is an uncommon highland species previously only recorded from Brazil and Southern Venezuela. In Guyana (see Material Examined) it was collected in the mountainous area of the Orinduik region near the R Ireng. Pupae were collected in small waterfalls, and on rocks covered with red algae and attached to dead leaves. It has been collected at similar sites on the Brazilian side of the R Ireng (R Maú in Brazil) where females voraciously bite man (AJ Shelley & APA Luna Dias, unpublished data). Simulium (Chirostilbia) subpallidum Lutz A full description is given by Coscarón (1991) and Shelley et al. (2000); the latter authors summarise the relevant literature. Over its range this species varies in scutal coloration from faded orange to light grey. Black specimens were also recorded in the present work. It is common and widespread throughout neighbouring Brazil and also occurs in Venezuela, Argentina, and Paraguay. Pupae were collected on vegetation in rivers 3-50 m wide, with rocky beds, in the Rupununi District. Simulium (Inaequalium) clarki Fairchild Since the original description by Fairchild (1940) based on specimens from Panama the species has had no full taxonomic treatment. It has also been recorded from Brazil and Venezuela and now in the northern Rupununi District of Guyana, where it was anthropophilic and found breeding in 50 m wide rivers. In the neighbouring part of Brazil it was also collected biting man and found breeding in smaller streams (AJ Shelley & APA Luna Dias, unpublished data). Simulium (Notolepria)
exiguum Roubaud Shelley et al. (1997, 2000) reviewed the taxonomy of this widespread, commonly occurring Neotropical species. Many populations of this species complex are anthropophilic and some are vectors of human onchocerciasis, but in some areas almost total zoophily occurs. S. exiguum s.l. has been collected breeding on vegetation in the R Takutu (R Tacutu in Brazil) on the border between Brazil and Guyana. Simulium (Psaroniocompsa)
cauchense This zoophilic species has been reviewed in Shelley et al. (1997) and occurs in Brazil, French Guiana and Venezuela. In Guyana S. cauchense was collected in 15-50 m wide rivers, attached to leaves and submerged vegetation. Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) limbatum Knab S. limbatum is a voracious, anthropophilic species occurring in the Guianas, Venezuela, and Brazil and has frequently been confused with S. incrustatum, which it greatly resembles. It is generally associated with small to medium flowing rivers in flat savanna areas. Shelley et al. (1997) described the morphological differences and previous taxonomic confusion surrounding these two species. In the present survey S. limbatum was collected from the southern Rupununi District biting man and breeding on leaves in 1.5 m to 10 m wide rivers. All the specimens previously identified by Davies (1973) as S. incrustatum are S. limbatum. Preliminary studies on its man-biting densities and insecticide trials with temephos have been reported (Humphrys et al. 1977, Rambajan 1981 ab). Shelley et al. (1987) showed that this species is capable of acting as a host to Onchocerca volvulus outside the Amazonia onchocerciasis focus in Brazil and hence it may be a vector of M. ozzardi in Guyana. Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) oyapockense Floch & Abonnenc (species complex) This species was originally described from French Guiana and is now known to be common and widespread in South America. Shelley et al. (1997) reviewed its complicated taxonomy and provided a full description of all stages. S. oyapockense s.l. is a species complex in which most populations are anthropophilic and is closely related to the anthropophilic S. roraimense Nunes de Mello. The two species can only be separated morphologically in the male and pupa and hence man-biting females of the two species cannot be distinguished. In neighbouring Brazil both species occur, often sympatrically, and an atypical form of male S. oyapockense s.l. occurs where the scutal cunae are extended into tails. This atypical form also occurs in Guyana (Fig. 57), but no S. roraimense has yet been recorded. Most of the specimens from Guyana were collected biting man and have been recorded as S. oyapockense s.l. However, it is likely that S. roraimense will be found in this country and at such a time the status of these females will need to be re-examined. S. oya-pockense s.l. was commonly found in the Rupununi District of Guyana biting man (see Material Examined). Its breeding grounds are often difficult to locate and tend to be in rapids in larger, fast running rivers. Humphrys et al. (1977) and Rambajan (1981b) made observations on the biting habits of this species around the town of Lethem in the southern Rupununi District (Map). S. oyapockense s.l. is medically important because of its role as a vector of two filarial species that infect man. In the Rupununi District and in the adjacent savanna region of Brazil it is a vector of M. ozzardi (Nathan et al. 1982, Moraes et al. 1985) and in the Amazonia onchocerciasis focus in Brazil it is the primary vector of O. volvulus (Shelley et al. 1997). Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) quadrifidum Lutz This zoophilic species has been covered in Shelley et al. (1997) and is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Surinam, and Venezuela. S. quadrifidum was collected attached to dead leaves in small rapids, in 10 m wide rivers in the southern part of the Rupununi District. Simulium (Psilopelmia) kabanayense Ramírez Pérez & Vulcano, 1973 Only three pupal exuviae of this species exist in the BMNH collection. They were originally identified as S. lutzianum (Smart 1940), but have now been identified as S. kabanayense, a presumably zoophilic species only previously recorded from Venezuela (Ramírez Pérez & Vulcano 1973, Ramírez Pérez 1983, Hamada & Grillet 2001). The specimens from Guyana were collected from a small stream in northern Rupununi District. Simulium (Psilopelmia)
lutzianum Pinto, 1932 The species is dealt with in Sawyer (1991) and Shelley et al. (1989a, 1997) and occurs in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It is usually zoophilic, but has been recorded biting man in Southern Brazil (Shelley et al. 2000). In Guyana pupae were collected on vegetation in small rapids in 15 m wide rivers. Simulium (Psilopelmia) maroniense Floch & Abonnenc, 1946 (species complex) This is a species found in the R Orinoco tributaries of Southern Venezuela, the northern tributaries of the R Amazon in Brazil and in the Guianas. There have been some taxonomic problems concerning this species and the closely related S. rorotaense described by Floch and Abonnenc (1946) in the same paper. In a paper reviewing the taxonomy of several Neotropical species Shelley et al. (1984) regarded S. maroniense s.l, S. wuayaraka Ortiz, 1957, S. fulvinotum Cerqueira & Nunes de Mello in Cerqueira, 1967 and S. ignacioi Ramírez Pérez and Vulcano, 1973 as synonyms of S. rorotaense. During the publication of this paper Ramírez Pérez (1983) was issued in which S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense were treated as valid species, S. wuayaraka was considered a synonym of S. maroniense s.l. and S. ignacioi a synonym of S. ro-rotaense. A discussion of these actions and subsequent treatment of these names by other reviewers is given in Shelley et al. (1997), who maintained their original synonymy list under S. rorotaense as expounded in their 1984 paper. Since then Hamada and collaborators have carried out more extensive morphological and cytological work and concluded that both S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense are valid species. Hamada and Adler (1998) were unable to find differences between adult S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense, but in specimens collected from the Brazilian Amazon were able to distinguish pupae in the following ways. S. maroniense s.l. has thicker, more darkly pigmented gills, dorsal filaments shorter than ventral and more basal branching. The filaments form a rosette in S. maroniense s.l., but are bunched forwards in S. rorotaense. Trichome branching and tubercle density in pupae were variable in each species [as we also found], but generally tubercles were larger and more densely distributed in S. maroniense s.l. In this paper they considered S. ignacioi to be a valid species, but provided no evidence to support this view and apparently did not examine type material. In their key the pupa is recorded as indistinguishable from that of S. rorotaense, with which Ramírez Pérez (1983) had synonymised it, based on the original description of S. ignacioi by Ramírez Pérez and Vulcano (1973). A later paper by Hamada and Grillet (2001) with keys to species in two adjacent regions of Southern Venezuela and Northern Brazil stated that Hamada and Adler (1998) had based their recognition of species status for S. ignacioi on gill filament numbers and chromosomal configuration [although not stated in the paper]. In their key to last instar larvae, Hamada and Grillet (2001) recorded the gill histoblast of S. ignacioi with 14-17 filaments (usually 16) [the original description of Ramírez Pérez and Vulcano (1973) recorded 17-20 filaments in 8 specimens examined] compared to S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense with 17-23 filaments (usually 18-21). The pupa of S. ignacioi is again keyed out with that of S. rorotaense, having 17-23 thin, lightly pigmented filaments, not arranged in the form of a rosette [In couplet 17 of the key an error exists where specimens with gills with "10-17 filaments" are compared to those with gills "with more than 17 filaments"]. In the key to pupae they also recorded S. ignacioi and S. rorotaense as having lateral fenestrations in the cocoon, that are absent in S. maroniense s.l.. We examined pupae of S. maroniense s.l. collected and identified by Hamada and Xavier from Brazil and S. rorotaense collected by Hamada and Fouque from French Guiana (see Material Examined) and both species showed lateral fenestrations in the cocoon. Hamada and Adler (1999) provided cytological evidence supporting the validity of S. maroniense s.l., which was recorded as having four cytotypes in Brazil compared to the single cytotype of S. rorotaense. The two species were separated by the presence of the fixed terminal inversion IIIL-5 in S. maroniense s.l. Chromosomal evidence was also used to support the synonymy of S. fulvinotum (Py-Daniel 1982, Shelley et al. 1984, 1997) with S. rorotaense, but insufficient material was available for comment on the status of S. ignacioi and S. wuayaraka. Subsequently, Hamada and Fouque (2001) showed a similar karyotype for S. rorotaense topotypes from French Guiana, but were unable to obtain S. maroniense s.l. from its type locality because of the construction of a dam in the area. Scarpassa and Hamada (2003) were unable to find diagnostic loci between S. rorotaense and a cytotype of S. maroniense s.l. in recent studies on isoenzyme variation of several species from the Brazilian Amazon. We have now re-examined the type specimens of S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense, examined named specimens of the two species loaned by Dr Neusa Hamada from the Inpa collection, specimens from the BMNH collection, kindly reviewed by Dr Neusa Hamada, and from CUAC. We have the following comments. We were only able to locate the lectotypes and paralectotypes of the two species in the IP in Paris. The other paralectotypes referred to in the original publication and assumed by Shelley et al (1984) to be in the IP, French Guiana could not be located there and are presumed lost (N Hamada, pers. commun.). The difficulty in establishing whether S. maroniense s.l. is a synonym of S. rorotaense still lies in the fact that the slide of the reared female lectotype of the former species lacks the pupal exuviae and of the male paralectotype all but the abdomen of the pupal exuviae, the stage in which the only significant interspecific characters occur. Recourse has therefore had to be made to the authors' original descriptions and subsequent work by Hamada and collaborators. The original authors (Floch & Abonnenc, 1946) described S. maroniense s.l. as a species distinct from S. rorotaense based on differences between the female genitalia and cibarium and between pupae. Later, Coscarón (1990) distinguished the two species based on the size of the sensory organ in the maxillary palp, the size of the nudiocular triangle and minor differences in pupal morphology, all of which are intraspecific variations. Our re-examination of the adult types and specimens recorded in "Material Examined" revealed no differences in adult morphology. In the pupae the original authors referred to the presence of the following characters in S. rorotaense with observations for S. maroniense s.l. in brackets - 2-3 branched trichomes (3-6), largely unpigmented thorax and gill (finely pigmented), small and sparsely distributed tubercles (strong and densely distributed) and no great difference in gill filament lengths (shorter dorsally) and some secondary gill branches not basal (relatively basal). We recorded the following for the female lectotype of S. rorotaense- the thoracic trichomes vary from single to at least 5 branched (trichome broken) and of the head bifid to 4-branched, no pigmentation is evident and tubercles are relatively small and sparsely distributed, gill filaments are approximately of equal length and secondary branching can occur up to the middle part of the gill. Pupae in the BMNH collection and loaned from the Inpa collection (see Material Examined) for S. maroniense s.l. showed thoracic trichomes with 1-9 branches, pigmented thorax and gills, well developed, densely distributed thoracic tubercles, dorsal gill filaments shorter than ventral and branching always basal. The principal character of the rosette form of the S. maroniense s.l. gill and its shorter dorsal filaments, both not present in S. rorotaense, was efficient in separating most specimens. However, in some (even preserved in spirit) it was difficult to make an accurate identification, which might suggest the presence of a cline with the rosette and forward bunched forms of the filaments representing either extreme. Consequently, we agree with the re-validation of S. maroniense s.l., but advocate an examination of larger series of specimens to assess the variability of the form of the gill in different localities. Our recognition of the type status of S. maroniense s.l. now opens the question of which names are synonymous with which species. It is now known from cytological evidence that S. fulvinotum is a synonym of S. rorotaense (Hamada & Adler, 1999). We previously regarded S. ignacioi and S. wuayaraka as synonyms of S. rorotaense (Shelley et al. 1984, 1997), while Ramírez Pérez (1983) synonymised S. ignacioi with S. rorotaense and S. wuayaraka with S. maroniense s.l. The types of S. ignacioi and S. wuayaraka are now lost to science [The private collection of Dr Ramírez Pérez is now in such a poor condition as to be of limited value (E Grillet, pers. commun.) and is not freely accessible; the private collection of Dr Vulcano is not available for examination and the other depositories cited in the original descriptions have lost the specimens]. Therefore, we can only consider the original descriptions of the two species concerned, taking into account the comments made in Shelley et al. (1997) in relation to subsequent publications by Ramírez Pérez on S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense. In addition to these we agree that the figure of the gill of S. maroniense s.l. in Ramírez Pérez (1983) is of this species because of the shorter dorsal filaments and the gill of S. rorotaense appears to be of this species. The recent work by Hamada and Grillet (2001) revealed only S. maroniense s.l. in several watercourses in the Gran Sabana area of Venezuela and no S. rorotaense, but higher sample numbers are required before any conclusions on distribution patterns may be drawn. S. ignacioi is difficult to place because figures of the original description (Ramírez Pérez & Vulcano 1973) are different for this species in Ramírez Pérez et al. (1983), which also has a more complete description. In the latter publication the male scutal pattern, gill, female and male genitalia have all been redrawn and these figures are replicated to illustrate S. rorotaense (with which S. ignacioi is synonymised) in Ramírez Pérez (1983). The latter paper figures the male scutum with 1+1 sub-median, comma-shaped marks on the anterior scutal border, but no mention of these is made in the text. We have now examined further material of S. maroniense s.l. from the R Mucajai in Brazil and of S. rorotaense from the Reserva Ducke, near Manaus in Brazil and have noted the presence of these marks in one male of each species. They are of a lighter orange than the rest of the scutum and are only visible when the light is anterior to the specimen with the thorax tilted to an almost lateral position. We still regard S. ignacioi as a synonym of S. rorotaense because the figure of Ramírez Pérez and Vulcano (1973) shows secondary branching of the gill filaments less basal than in S. maroniense s.l. and no evidence of the dorsal filaments being shorter than the ventral, two of the main features typical of S. rorotaense. S. wuayaraka was described from 16 man-biting females, whose description is similar to those of S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense, and so in the absence of pupae no objective decision may be made on synonymy. The distribution of S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense is not sufficiently known to use this as a basis for synonymy. Therefore, for taxonomic simplicity we accept the synonym of S. wuayaraka with S. maroniense s.l. recorded by Ramírez Pérez (1983). Distribution records for S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense recorded in Shelley et al. (1997) are accordingly amended as shown in the "Material Examined". Those for Ramírez Pérez (1983) need to be verified. Coscarón (1990) placed S. maroniense s.l. and S. rorotaense in the subgenus Ectemnaspis. Simulium (Psilopelmia) perflavum Roubaud, 1906 Morphological descriptions and taxonomic details of this species may be found in Coscarón (1990, 1991) and Ramírez Pérez (1983). Rambajan (1979) described S. nilesi from the southern Rupunini District, but this name was later synonymised with S. perflavum by Py-Daniel (1989). The zoophilic species occurs in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Venezuela (Crosskey & Howard 1997). In Guyana S. perflavum was collected in muddy, slow flowing rivers of 1-5m wide with pupae attached to leaves and submerged grasses. Simulium (Trichodagmia)
guianense Wise, 1911 This anthropophilic species, which is a primary vector of human onchocerciasis in Brazil and Venezuela, has been revised by Shelley et al. (1997). Since then four pinned females have been found in the Nearctic accessions of the BMNH. These are the four missing specimens of the 11 sent by Melville to Wise (Wise 1911). These were presented by Dr KS Wise and bear printed labels, but not labels in the hand of Wise (see Material examined for details). Extra labels have been added to the lectotype and original paralectotypes indicating Melville as collector (Wise had used his own name on the labels) and extra details have been added to the four paralectotypes recently found in the BMNH. All four specimens are S. guianense s.l. and the genitalia of two confirmed this identification. They are undoubtedly paralectotypes and have been labelled accordingly. This species is also found in Brazil, the other Guianas and Venezuela. S. guianense s.l. was collected on submerged vegetation, especially of the "Orin Weed" of the family Podostemaceae, in fast flowing stretches close to waterfalls or steep rapids of 50 m wide rivers with rocky beds. Simulium (Trichodagmia) perplexum Shelley, This anthropophilic species is only known from its type locality at the Kaieteur Falls, Potaro R. Pupae of S. perplexum were collected attached to submerged vegetation in the family Podostemaceae by Smart (1940), who identified it as S. guianense s.l. to which it is closely related. A full description of this species is found in Shelley et al. (1989b). MATERIAL EXAMINED Simulium (Chirostilbia) spinibranchium Lutz, 1910 GUYANA SPIRIT Simulium (Chirostilbia) subpallidum Lutz, 1910 GUYANA Simulium (Inaequalium) clarki Fairchild, 1940 GUYANA SLIDES SPIRIT Simulium (Notolepria) exiguum Roubaud, 1906 (species complex) BRAZIL Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) cauchense Floch & Abonnenc, 1946 GUYANA Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) limbatum Knab, 1915 TYPE MATERIAL GUYANAPINNED Rupununi District, R Rupununi; ix.1913, (KS Wise) - 1 female [HOLOTYPE], 5 females [PARATYPES] (BMNH). OTHER MATERIAL PINNED SPIRIT Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) oyapockense Floch & Abonnenc, 1946 (species complex) GUYANA SLIDES SPIRIT Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) quadrifidum Lutz, 1917 GUYANA SPIRIT Simulium (Psilopelmia) kabanayense Ramírez Pérez & Vulcano, 1973 GUYANA Simulium (Psilopelmia) lutzianum Pinto,
1932 GUYANA Simulium (Psilopelmia) maroniense Floch & Abonnenc, 1946 (species complex) Note: most specimens from the BMNH collection recorded as S. rorotaense in Shelley et al. (1997) are now placed as S. maroniense s.l. TYPE MATERIAL FRENCH GUIANA OTHER MATERIAL BRAZIL PINNED State of Mato Grosso State of Pará State of Roraima SLIDES SPIRIT GUYANA SPIRIT SLIDES VENEZUELA Bolivar State Simulium (Psilopelmia) rorotaense Floch and Abonnenc, 1946 TYPE MATERIAL FRENCH GUIANA OTHER MATERIAL BRAZIL SLIDES SPIRIT State of Pará FRENCH GUIANA Simulium maroniense s.l./ Simulium rorotaense Specimens under this title are from localities where no reared material is available to provide a more precise identification. BRAZIL State of Pará State of Roraima GUYANA Simulium (Psilopelmia) perflavum Roubaud, 1906 GUYANA SLIDES Simulium (Trichodagmia) guianense Wise, 1911 (species complex) TYPE MATERIAL GUYANA SLIDES OTHER MATERIAL PINNED SLIDES SPIRIT Simulium (Trichodagmia) perplexum Shelley, Maia-Herzog, Luna Dias & Couch, 1989 TYPE MATERIAL GUYANA SLIDES JBD wishes to express his gratitude for the help and companionship provided by those he encountered during his main trips to the Rupununi District in 1970 and 1971. In particular, Mr JA Sankey, British High Commission, and his staff; MH Ali, L Frenker, and Dr Egbert, Ministry of Health; C McA Ashley, Chief Development Officer, R Barnwell, K Chung, and S Sagar, District Commissioners; L Lowenfield, FM Wills, and R Dookah, Field Officers, Malaria Eradication Programme. In Kato, the hospitality provided by the store owner Sr Brazão was especially welcome. During a last visit in 1975, assistance was provided by Dr P Munroe, I Rambajan, as well as S Hingwan of CAREC, Trinidad. We are grateful to Dr Peter Adler of CUAC, US, Dr Neusa Hamada of Inpa, Brazil, and Dr P Reiter of IP, France, for the loan of specimens. REFERENCES
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