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Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 100, No. 2, April, 2005, pp. 137-150 The bloodsucking biting midges of Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Gustavo R Spinelli+, María M Ronderos, Florentina Díaz, Pablo I Marino División
Entomología, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, 1900
La Plata, Argentina
Received 14 September 2004 Code Number: oc05061 A key is presented for the identification of the adults of 54 species of bloodsucking ceratopogonids, 51 of which are known inhabitants of Argentina, and Culicoides uruguayensis Ronderos, C. pifanoi Ortiz, and C. trilineatus Fox, which are known to occur in bordering Uruguay and Paraguay. Wing photographs are provided of females of the 45 species of Culicoides. Three new species of Culicoides Latreille from Northeastern Argentina are described and illustrated: C. austroparaensis Spinelli, C. bachmanni Spinelli, and C. williamsi Spinelli. The following six species are recorded for the first time from Argentina and/or bordering localities in Paraguay: Leptoconops brasiliensis (Lutz), C. gabaldoni Ortiz, C. ginesi Ortiz, C. pifanoi Ortiz, C. pseudocrescentis Tavares and Luna Dias, and C. trilineatus; and C. estevezae Ronderos and Spinelli is newly recorded from Misiones province of Argentina. C. lopesi Barretto is excluded from the Argentinean ceratopogonid fauna. Key words: Diptera - Ceratopogonidae - biting midges - hematophagous - key - new species - Argentina Of the 102 living genera of Ceratopogonidae listed in the recent world catalog by Borkent and Wirth (1997), females of only the following four suck blood from vertebrates: Austroconops Wirth and Lee, endemic to Australia, and the cosmopolitan Leptoconops Skuse, For-cipomyia Meigen (only species included in the subgenus Lasiohelea Kieffer) and Culicoides Latreille. The medical and veterinary importance of these species in Argentina was recently reviewed by Ronderos et al. (2003), and the taxonomic status of the bloodsucking species in the country was treated by Ronderos and Spinelli (1992) for Leptoconops, Ronderos and Spinelli (1999), Marino and Spinelli (2005) for Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) and Ronderos and Spinelli (2002) for Culicoides. As a result of several collecting trips to northern sites in Argentina and Paraguay, material containing three undescribed species of Culicoides and several hitherto previously unrecorded species of Leptoconops and Culicoides for Argentina were processed and accessioned into the entomological collection of the Museo de La Plata. This paper deals with the description and illustration of three previously undescribed species, as well to provide a key for the identification of 54 species of bloodsucking ceratopogonids, 51 of which are known inhabitants of Argentina, and C. uruguayensis Ronderos, C. pifanoi Ortiz, and C. trilineatus Fox, which are known to occur in bordering Uruguay and Paraguay. Forattini (1957) recorded C. lopesi Barretto from Argentina, based on two females from Misiones province. During the present study these two females were re-examined and we determined that they actually belong to two different species. These specimens are mounted in Canada balsam, are very damaged and unidentifiable, but it could be verified that the antenna of both species differ from the one described by Forattini (1957) as the antenna of C. lopesi. Therefore, we conclude that C. lopesi is not present in Argentina. MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens were slide mounted in Canada balsam and examined, measured, and drawn using a binocular compound microscope with attached camera lucida. Types of the new species, as well as the remaining specimens examined are deposited in the collection of the División Entomología, Museo de la Plata, Argentina (MLPA). Illustrations are based on types. All specimens were collected biting or with different types of light traps. Terms for structures follow those used in the Manual of Nearctic Diptera (McAlpine et al. 1981). Terms for wing veins follow the system in the Manual of Nearctic Diptera, with modifications proposed by Szadziewski (1996). Names of veins are in upper case and those cells in lower case. Pale areas in cell r3 posterior to or immediately distal to second radial cell are called poststigmatic pale spots. Four abbreviated terms are used in the text: antennal ratio (AR) is the combined length of the five distal flagellomeres divided by the combined length of the eight proximal ones; palpal ratio (PR) is the length of the third palpal segment divided by its greatest width; proboscis/head ratio (P/H ratio) is the length of the proboscis measured from the distal end of the labrum-epipharynx to the anterior margin of the tormae, divided by the distance measured from the anterior margin of the tormae to the median hair socket between the eyes; costal ratio (CR) is obtained by dividing the length of the costa by wing length, measuring both from the level of the basal arculus of the wing. RESULTS Key to species 1. Eyes
widely separated dorsally, lacking frontal suture; female antenna
with 12 flagellomeres; palpus with four segments (only one beyond
elongate and/or swollen third) and with membranous gap between segment
3 and 4+5; wing whitish hyaline without macrotrichia, crossvein
r-m absent, female with radial cells fused into swollen stigma;
female cerci very elongate (except subgenus Brachyconops
Wirth and Atchley); male gonostylus with an apical, socketed peg
(Leptoconops Skuse) .....................
.....
.
.
2 2. Female
cerci short; tarsomeres 1-2 of foreleg with strong spines, other
tarsomeres with slender, sharp, or inconspicuous spines only; tarsal
claws of female each with basal, bifid tooth (subgenus Brachyconops)
...
L.
(B.) patagoniensis Ronderos 3. CR
0.20
.. L. (L.) petrocchiae Shannon and
Del Ponte 4. Apical
flagellomere 2.0-2.6 times longer than broad ............................................................................................5
5. Apical
flagellomere twice as long as broad; third palpal segment slender,
with small, rounded sensory pit; hind tibial comb with four spines,
second from spur longest; three spermathecae ...
.... L.
(L.) chilensis Forattini 6. Apical
flagellomere with conical apex; third palpal segment pale brown,
subequal to fourth, which bears a pale basal ring; longitudinal
veins abutting wing margin
.
....
..
L. (L.) brasiliensis (Lutz) 7. Wing
with numerous macrotrichia, without distal pattern of dark and/or
light pigmentation; apical flagellomere with terminal nipple which
is constricted basally; claws strongly curved; empodia well developed
(Forcipomyia Meigen, subgenus Lasiohelea Kieffer).............................................................................
8 8. CR
0.50
............................. F. (L.) saltensis
(Cavalieri) 9. Third
palpal segment fusiform, palpal ratio 1.90-2.10; cibarial armature
with 9-10 spines in one row; sclerites of aedeagus contacting at
2/3 of total length, distal portion elongate, directed lateroposteriorly
.............................. F. (L.) stylifer
(Lutz) 10.Wing
without pattern of pale and dark spots
........ 11 11.Large
species, wing length 1.30 mm; sensilla coe-loconica on flagellomeres
3-10.......................... C. irwini Spinelli
and Wirth (Fig. 1) 12.
Sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, (5), 6-8, (9-10), 11-12,
(13); halter dark brown; eyes bare; aedagus with bifid apex; parameres
without distal fringe ............ .....
C. caridei (Brèthes) (Fig.
2) 13.Pale
spots at periphery of wing very faint
............. 14 14.Small
species, wing length 0.64 mm; eyes contiguous, pubescent; wing nearly
bare of macrotrichia; poststigmatic pale spots abutting vein M1;
legs yellow except for dark knees .....................................
C. pusillus Lutz (Fig.
4)
15.
Third palpal segment with deep pit; femora without pale rings; sensilla
coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 5-8; CR 0.62
....................
C. bambusicola Lutz (Fig.
5)
16.
Second radial cell wholly or mainly included in a light spot ..............................................................................
17 17.
Wing dark, with well separated pale spots, veins CuA1
and CuA2 pale bordered in cell cua1; sensilla coe-loconica
on flagellomeres 1, 9-13 or 1, (2), 3, (4), 5, (6), 7, (8), 9-13;
legs dark brown, femora and tibiae with pale rings ......................18
18.
Cell m1 with one pale spot distal to the double spot straddling
vein M2
.................................................
19 19.
Crossvein r-m dark on anterior half; vein R3 blackened
into adjacent distal pale area up to a point where vein turns abruptly
forward to meet the costa; sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres
1, (2), 3, (4), 5, (6), 7, (8), 9-13; mandible with 21-23 teeth;
third palpal segment with definite, irregular pit .. .....................................................
C. insignis Lutz (Fig.
8) 20.
Crossvein r-m dark ...
......
.
.
21 21.
Eyes V-shaped where they contact; PR 1.90; vein R3 with
a small blackish spot just beyond apex; vein CuA2 with
apical pale spot; mandible with 18 teeth ..................... C.
charruus Spinelli and Martínez (Fig.
9) 22.
Yellowish brown species; third palpal segment with subdivided pit;
palpal ratio 3.30; mandible with 12-14 teeth; halter knob dark
.............
.
C.
ferreyrai Ronderos and Spinelli (Fig.
11) 23.
Crossvein r-m pale; wing pattern with extensive pale areas predominant
...................C. brasilianum Forattini (Fig.
13) 24.Vein
R3 with a small black spot just beyond apex ...... 25
25.
Sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 9-13; third palpal segment
very elongated, with shallow, rounded pit, PR 4.20; P/H ratio 1.22;
tergite 9 of male with widely spaced apicolateral processes; apex
of aedeagus truncated .......... C. foxi Ortiz (Fig.
14) 26.
Large, blackish species; mandible with 20-23 very small teeth; scutum
with prominent pattern ......................... . ignacioi
Forattini (Fig.
16) 27.
Crossvein r-m very dark on anterior half; third palpal segment with
irregular pit, PR 3.00-3.35 .....
... C. plaumanni
Spinelli (Fig. 17) 28.
Wing with pale spot straddling middle of vein M2, or
veins M1 and M2 entirely pale-margined,
including this area .....
.. 29 29.Wing
with extensive, interconnected pale markings (cell m1
with distal pale spot shorter than dark area between it and wing
margin; cell r3 with poststigmatic pale spot not enclosing
a dark spot behind second radial cell; scutum yellowish with dark
brown sublateral bands)
... C. pifanoi
Ortiz (Fig. 19) 30.Vein
M1 with pale spot present straddling basal portion; sensilla
coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 9-13 .........................31
31.One
spermatheca without sclerotized neck; two separate, small, distal
pale spots in cell cell r3; fore, mid femora with subapical
pale rings
C. uruguayensis
Ronderos (Fig. 20) 32.Small
species, wing length 1.10 mm; spermathecae ovoid, length 0.044,
0.035 mm, respectively ....................C. chacoensis
Spinelli and Wirth (Fig. 21) 33.Cell
m1 with two pale spots past the pale spots straddling
vein M2; cell r3 with six small round pale
spots
.. 34 34.Sternite
9 of male with broad, shallow posteromedial excavation; third palpal
segment with shallow pit; hind tibial comb with five spines ...............
C. venezuelensis Ortiz and Mirsa (Fig. 23) 35.
Cell r3 with pale spot lying in front of vein M1
located between poststigmatic and the crescent-shaped, distal
pale spot
...................... C. crescentis
Wirth and Blanton (Fig.
25) 36.Cell
m2 with two (or one with at least part of a second) pale
spot lying distal to level of cubital fork ............ 37 37.
Distal pale spot in cell m1 broadly abutting wing margin..................
..
38 38.
Apices of veins M1, M2 dark; hind femur with
subapical pale ring .................
. C. limai
Barretto (Fig. 27) 39.
Second radial cell long, CR 0.75; scutum dark brown, without prominent
pattern ............................. C. cuiabai
Wirth (Fig. 29) 40.Anal
cell with one distal pale spot; distal pale spot in cell r3
not abutting wing margin; legs largely pale
..
C. aureus Ortiz (Fig.
30) 41.One
spermatheca; pale spot on crossvein r-m extensive; pale spot present
behind second radial cell, proximal to the poststigmatic pale spots;
poststigamtic pale spots longitudinally aligned, posterior one smaller;
distal pale spot in cell r3 large, with narrow proximal
extension
..................
.. C. leopoldoi
Ortiz (Fig. 31) 42.
Sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 9-12
.....
.
C. guarani Ronderos and Spinelli (Fig.
33) 43.One
spermatheca ...............C. estevezae Ronderos and
Spinelli (Fig. 34) 44.Cell
r3 with three pale spots (two poststigmatic, and one
located between the poststigmatic pale spots and wing margin); cell
m1 with two pale spots (additional, faint third pale
spot may be present in C. dureti and C. trilineatus)
..
....
.
.. 46 45.Distal
portion of parameres with well developed ventral lobe, tapered to
fine point with lateral fringe of fine spines
...............
C. paraensis (Goeldi) (Fig.
35) 46.Sensilla
coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 4-8 ..........................
C. trilineatus Fox (Fig.
37) 47.Poststigmatic
pale spot fused, longitudinally aligned; third palpal segment moderatelly
swollen, with 48.Palpus
pale yellowish
.....
..................C
. gabaldoni Ortiz (Fig.
38) 49.
Flagellomeres 9-10 subequal to preceding and following ones
.....
.
.
C. horticola Lutz (Fig.
39)
50.Scutum
with prominent pattern of punctiform brown dots; pale spot present
anterior to cubital fork; distal pale spots in cells m2
and cua1 not abutting wing margin .....
.
....
C. ginesi Ortiz (Fig.
41)
51.
Sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 5-8 ........
52 52.
Flagellomeres 8, 9 subequal, AR 0.82; additional, faint third pale
spot in cell m1 abbuting wing margin; small dark spot
just behind second radial cell; spermathecae with short necks
............................C.
dureti Ronderos and Spinelli (Fig.
42) 53.
Third palpal segment stout, PR 2.00-2.60; flagellomere 8 longer
than 9; distal pale spot in cell m1 separated from wing
margin by a distance aproximate to its length; macrotrichia distributed
on distal 2/3 of wing, extending in at least two rows to base of
cell m2; halter brown
... C.
debilipalpis Lutz (Fig.
44) DESCRIPTION OF NEW SPECIES
Culicoides
austroparaensis Spinelli, n. sp.
Diagnosis - Male: only species of the paraensis species group in which the distal portion of the parameres lack a ventral lobe and tapers to simple tip, without lateral fringe of spicules, and tergite 9 with very short, slender api-colateral processes. Female: indistinguishable from C. paraensis. Male. Similar to female with usual sexual differences. Flagellum as in Fig. 46. Wing length 0.82 mm; width 0.36 mm; CR 0.52. Genitalia Fig. 47: tergite 9 long, with very short, slender apicolateral processes, small posteromedial notch; sternite 9 short, with narrow, moderately deep posteromedial excavation. Gonocoxite stout, 1.35 X as long as broad, ventral root large, foot-shaped, posterior heel blunt, dorsal root slender; gonostylus as long as gonocoxite, broad basally, apex curved. Parameres (Fig. 48) separate, each with large, basal knob; basal portion slender, abruptly bent near base, distal portion sinuate, without ventral lobe, tapering to simple tip without lateral fringe of spicules. Aedeagus V-shaped, lateral arms slender, strongly sclerotized; basal arch pointed; posteromedial projection with simple, narrowly rounded tip. Female. Head brown. Eyes with dense pubescence, separated by distance equal to diameter of one ommatidium (Fig. 49). Flagellum (Fig. 50) pale brown, flagellomere 8 subequal to 9; AR 0.75 (0.68-0.80, n = 3); sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 6-8. Palpus (Fig. 51) pale brown; third segment moderately slender with small, deep pit; PR 2.85 (2.20-3.20, n = 3); P/H ratio 0.86 (n = 3). Mandible with 12-16 (n = 3) teeth. Thorax: scutum dark brown, without pattern. Legs dark brown; fore, mid femora with subapical, tibiae with subbasal pale rings, hind tibia pale distally; hind tibial comb with four spines, second from spur longest. Wing (Fig. 36), length 0.85 (0.82-0.87, n = 3) mm; width 0.41 (0.40-0,42, n = 3) mm; CR 0.57 (n = 3); with second radial cell in dark spot; pale spot on crossvein r-m small, rounded, barely abutting costal wing margin; poststigmatic pale spots in cell r3 small, rounded, posterior one located distinctly proximal to anterior one; two additional pale spots in cell r3, anterior one small, located in center of cell, distal one near apex of cell; cell m1 with three pale spots; cell m2 with one distal pale spot, another lying anterior to cubital fork, another behind crossvein r-m; cell cua1 with small pale spot not abutting wing margin nor veins CuA1, CuA2; anal cell with one distal pale spot well separated from wing margin; apices of veins M1, M2, CuA1, CuA2 dark. Macrotrichia very sparse on distal half of wing, a few on base of anal cell and on distal portion of cell m2. Halter pale. Abdomen: brown. Two ovoid spermathecae with sclerotized necks (Fig. 52), larger measuring 0.048 (n = 3) by 0.040 (n = 3) mm, neck length 0.008 mm, width 0.005 mm (n = 3), smaller measuring 0.040 (n = 3) by 0.032 (n = 3) mm, neck length 0.008 mm, width 0.003 mm (n = 3); rudimentary third, ring present. Distribution - Known only from its type-locality in northern Corrientes province of Argentina. Taxonomic discussion - This new species is a typical member of the C. paraensis group in the subgenus Hae-matomyidium Goeldi. Wirth and Felippe-Bauer (1989) reviewed the group, treating the hitherto known four species, C. paraensis, C. quasiparaensis Clastrier, C. neo-paraensis Tavares and Souza, and C. filiductus Wirth. Two more species belonging to this group, C. diversus Felippe-Bauer, and C. peruvianus Felippe-Bauer, were recently described from the Peruvian Amazonia (Felippe-Bauer et al. 2003). The male of this new species is very distinctive, unique within the paraensis group due to the absence of a lateral fringe of spicules on the distal portion of parameres. The parameres lacking a ventral lobe is a character only shared by C. quasiparensis, but females of this species differ from C. austroparensis by the stouter third palpal segment and by the very narrowly separated eyes. The females of C. austroparaensis are indistinguishables from those of C. paraensis. There is one male specimen from the type-locality which also lacks the lateral fringe of spicules on the distal portion of parameres. However, this specimen has a tergite 9 with stout, triangular apicolateral processes. It may be a variant of C. austroparaensis but due to this difference, we do not designate it as a paratype. The male and female of this species were associated by their shared pigmentation patterns and were collected together at the type locality. Types - Holotype male, allotype female, Argentina, Corrientes province, Santa Tecla, 18 km E Ituzaingó, VII-2001, G. Spinelli, CDC light trap. Paratypes, 2 females, same data as types except 8-X-2000. Derivation of specific epithet - A reference to the southernmost type-locality of species belonging to the C. paraensis group. Culicoides
bachmanni Spinelli, n. sp. C. horticola: Ronderos and Spinelli, 1990: 84 (in part, specimens from Buenos Aires province); Ronderos and Spinelli, 1998: 81 (Yacyreta Lake dam area). Diagnosis - Female: only species of the subgenus Hae-matomyidium with poststigmatic pale spots in cell r3 fused and longitudinally aligned, and in which flagellomeres 9-10 are clearly shorter than preceding and following ones. Female. Head: brown. Eyes with scattered pubescence, narrowly separated by distance shorter than diameter of one ommatidium. Flagellum (Fig. 53) pale brown, flagellomeres 9-10 clearly shorter than preceding and following ones; AR 0.58 (0.52-0.64, n = 5); sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 6-8. Palpus (Fig. 54) pale brown; third segment swollen with moderately large, shallow pit; PR 1.65 (1.40-1.95, n = 6); P/H ratio 0.58 (0.56-0.60, n = 8). Mandible with 12-13 (n = 8) teeth. Thorax: scutum dark brown, without pattern; scutellum, postscutellum dark brown. Legs dark brown, knees darkish; fore, mid femora with subapical, tibiae with subbasal pale rings, hind tibia slightly pale distally; hind tibial comb with four spines, second from spur longest. Wing (Fig. 40), length 0.71 (0.64-0.78, n = 9) mm; width 0.34 (0.30-0.37, n = 9) mm; CR 0.56 (0.53-0.58, n = 9); with second radial cell in dark spot; pale spot on crossvein r-m small, rounded, barely abutting costal wing margin; poststigmatic pale spots in cell r3 fused, longitudinally aligned; distal pale spot in cell r3 rounded, located in center of cell, not abutting wing margin; two elongate pale spots in cell m1, distal one narrowly separated from wing margin; cell m2 with small distal pale spot not abutting wing margin, another lying anterior to cubital fork, the latter continuous to conspicuous pale spot extending to crossvein r-m; cell cua1 with rounded pale spot broadly abutting wing margin, reaching distal portion of vein CuA1; anal cell with one distal, large pale spot broadly abutting wing margin; apices of veins M1, M2, CuA1, CuA2 dark. Macrotrichia very sparse on distal fourth of wing. Halter pale. Abdomen: brown. Two ovoid spermathecae with sclerotized necks (Fig. 55), larger measuring 0.035 (0.028-0.040, n = 6) by 0.029 (0.026-0.031, n = 6) mm, neck 0.009 (0.007-0.010, n = 6) mm, smaller measuring 0.032 (0.026-0.035, n = 6) by 0.027 (0.024-0.028, n = 6) mm, neck 0.007 (0.005-0.008, n = 6) mm; rudimentary third, ring present. Male. Unknown. Distribution - Argentina (Buenos Aires and Misiones provinces), Paraguay (Itapua). Taxonomic discussion - This new species belongs to the subgenus Haematomyidium, and keys to couplet 66 in Spinelli and Wirth (1986) where it may be distinguished from C. horticola by the antenna with flagellomeres 9-10 clearly shorter than preceding and following ones. C. gabaldoni, a species currently placed in the C. leoni species group (Borkent & Wirth 1997, Borkent & Spinelli 2000), is also similar to C. bachmanni and C. horticola, especially by its wing pattern with the poststigmatic pale spots in cell r3 fused and longitudinally aligned, and by the third palpal segment swollen with moderately large, shallow pit. However, C. gabaldoni differs from both species by the palpus typically pale yellowish and more elongated flagellomeres 11-13. Types - Holotype female, Argentina, Misiones prov., Corpus, 23-X-2003, A. Giménez, CDC light. Paratypes, 8 females, as follows: same data as holotype, except 10-IV-2002, G. Spinelli, 1 female; Misiones prov., Posadas, Mártires stream, 14-VI-1994, G. Spinelli, 1 female, CDC light trap; Misiones prov., 9 de Julio, 11-XI-2003, A. Giménez, 1 female, CDC light trap; Buenos Aires prov., Punta Lara, 25-XI-1985, G. Spinelli - M. Ronderos, 3 females, CDC light trap; Paraguay, Itapua, Encarnación, Santa María stream, 18-X-1993, H. Ferreyra, 1 female, CDC light trap; Paraguay, Mayor Otaño, 11-IV-1994, G. Spinelli, 1 female, CDC light trap. Derivation of specific epithet - This species is named after Dr Axel O Bachmann (Museo "Bernardino Riva-davia", Buenos Aires, Argentina) in recognition of his important contribution to Entomology in Argentina and his valuable assistance to several young entomologists during the past 50 years. Culicoides
williamsi Spinelli, n. sp. Diagnosis - Male: only species of the fluvialis species group in which the ventral root of gonocoxite lacks a heel-like expansion and with the distal portion of parameres bearing a lateral fringe of fine spicules, which are very inconspicuous. Female is the only species of the fluvialis species group with a narrow pale spot on crossvein r-m, with a separate pale spot distal to crossvein r-m in cell r3, and the distal pale spot in cell r3 divided into two smaller, oblique pale spots. Male. Similar to female with usual sexual differences. Flagellum as in Fig. 56 flagellomeres 2 and 3 strongly fused. Wing length 0.80 mm; width 0.32 mm; CR 0.55. Genitalia (Fig. 57): tergite 9 tapering gradually, distally without posteromedial notch, apicolateral processes short; sternite 9 short, with shallow posteromedial excavation. Gonocoxite 2.2 X longer than broad, ventral root stout without heel-like expansion, dorsal root long, slender; gonostylus broad at base, tapering distally from proximal third, distal portion moderately curved, with broad bent tip. Parameres (Fig. 58) separate, each with large, basal knob; basal portion slender, bent near base, with well developed ventral lobe, distal portion recurved, tapered to slender, sharply pointed tip, with lateral fringe of inconspicuous fine spicules (Fig. 59). Aedeagus with broad, rounded basal arch, extending to 0.60 of total length; basal arms slender, distal portion slender, simple, with narrow rounded apex. Female. Head brown. Eyes bare, narrowly separated by distance shorter than diameter of one ommatidium. Flagellum (Fig. 60) brown, bases of flagellomeres 2-8 pale; AR 1.16 (1.12-1.18, n = 4); sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1, 5-8. Palpus (Fig. 61) dark brown; third segment slightly swollen with shallow, subapical pit; PR 1.90 (1.80-2.00, n = 4); P/H ratio 0.63 (0.62-0.65, n = 3). Mandible with 12-13 (n = 4) teeth. Thorax: scutum dark brown, with conspicuous pattern as illustrated (Fig. 62); scutellum dark brown on broad midportion, sides narrowly yellowish, postscutellum dark brown. Legs dark brown; femora with subapical, tibiae with subbasal pale rings, hind tibia pale distally, knees darkish; hind tibial comb with four spines, one nearest spur longest. Wing (Fig. 32), length 0.92 (0.86-1.01, n = 4) mm; width 0.45 (0.42-0.48, n = 4) mm; CR 0.61 (0.60-0.62, n = 4); with second radial cell in dark spot; pale spot on crossvein r-m narrow, broadly abutting costal wing margin; cell r3 with small, separate pale spot distal to crossvein r-m, poststigmatic pale spots subequal, posterior one located proximal to first; distal pale spot in cell r3 divided in two smaller, oblique pale spots, distal most barely abutting wing margin; two pale spots in cell m1, distal most well separated from wing margin; cell m2 with two elongate pale spots on distal portion, distal most small, not abutting wing margin, another pale spot lying anterior to cubital fork, another behind crossvein r-m; cell cua1 with small pale spot not abutting wing margin nor veins CuA1, CuA2; anal cell with two distal pale spots, distal one barely abutting wing margin, irregular pale area at base; apices of veins M1, M2, CuA1 with small pale spots, apex of vein CuA2 dark. Macrotrichia few, scattered on distal fourth of wing membrane. Halter dark brown. Abdomen: brown. Two ovoid spermathecae with long, sclerotized, recurved necks (Fig. 63), larger measuring 0.059 (0.058-0.060, n = 4) by 0.050 (0.048-0.053, n = 4) mm, neck 0.021 (0.020-0.022, n = 4) mm, smaller measuring 0.049 (0.046-0.050, n = 4) by 0.040 (0.038-0.043, n = 4) mm, neck 0.019 (0.017-0.020, n = 4) mm; rudimentary third, ring present. Distribution - Argentina (Formosa province); Paraguay (Itapua). Taxonomic discussion - This new species belongs to the C. fluvialis species group, and keys to couplet 48 in Spinelli and Wirth (1986) where it may be distinguished from C. leopoldoi by the presence of two spermathecae (one in C. leopoldoi). The wing pattern of C. leopoldoi is also very similar to that C. williamsi, but it can be distinguished by the extensive pale spot on crossvein r-m, the presence of a pale spot behind second radial cell proximal to the poststigmatic pale spots, these pale areas longitudinally aligned, the posterior one smaller, and by the distal pale spot in cell r3 large with narrow proximal extension. The male and female of this species were associated by their shared pigmentation patterns and were collected together at the type locality. Types. Holotype male, allotype female, Paraguay, Itapua, Ayolas, refugio Atinguy, 25-III-2004, D. López _ A. Ortiz, CDC light trap. Paratypes, 3 females, as follows: same data as types, 2 females; Argentina, Formosa province, Estancia La Marcela, 35 km E El Colorado, 27/28-VII-2003, J. Williams, at light. Derivation of specific epithet - This species is named after Prof. Jorge D. Williams, herpetologist at the Museo de La Plata, Argentina, in recognition of his friendship and important help collecting ceratopogonids. New records Leptoconops (Leptoconops) brasiliensis (Lutz) Tersesthes brasiliensis Lutz, 1913: 66 (female; Brazil); Gezuelo and Franca-Rodríguez, 1972: 39 (Uruguay record). L. brasiliensis: Lane, 1945: 358 (comb.; type redescr.). L. (Leptoconops) brasiliensis: Ronderos and Spinelli, 1992: 43 (in key to Neotropical species); Borkent and Spinelli, 2000: 9 (in Neotropical catalog; distrib.). Specimens examined - Argentina, Salta prov., Molinos, 19-I-2000, G. Spinelli, 1 female, biting man. Distribution - Northwestern Argentina; Brazil (Amazonas); Uruguay. Culicoides estevezae Ronderos and Spinelli C. estevezae Ronderos and Spinelli, 1994: 47 (female; Argentina, Salta province); Borkent and Spinelli, 2000: 38 (in Neotropical catalog; distrib.). Specimens examined - Argentina, Misiones prov., Campo Viera, 7/9-X-1982, G. Spinelli, 1 female, Shannon light trap.; Misiones prov., Corpus, 23-X-2003, A. Giménez, 1 female, CDC light trap. Distribution - Northwestern and northeastern Argentina. Culicoides gabaldoni Ortiz C. gabaldoni Ortiz, 1954: 221 (female; Venezuela); Wirth and Blanton, 1959: 431 (redescr.; Panama); Vitale et al. 1981: 146 (in key, C. debilipalpis group); Wirth et al. 1988: 48 (wing photo); Ronderos and Spinelli 1998: 81 (Paraguay record); Borkent and Spinelli 2000: 39 (in Neotropical catalog; distrib.). Specimens examined - Argentina, Misiones prov., Corpus, 7-VI-2000, G. Spinelli, 1 female, CDC light trap; same data except, 10-IV-2002, A. Giménez, 2 females. Distribution - Mexico (Tabasco) to Ecuador, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil (Bahia), Paraguay, northeastern Argentina. Culicoides ginesi Ortiz C. ginesi Ortiz, 1951: 586 (female; Venezuela); Wirth and Blanton 1959: 450 (redescr.; Panama); Wirth and Blanton 1973: 436 (Brazil record); Vitale et al. 1981: 146 (in key, C. debilipalpis group); Wirth et al. 1988: 48 (wing photo); Borkent and Spinelli 2000: 32 (in Neotropical catalog; distrib.). Specimens examined - Argentina, Misiones prov., Anyico stream and national route nr 14 (km 813, aproximately 30 kn N San José), 4-XI-2002, G Spinelli, 4 females, at light. Distribution - El Salvador to Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil (Para), northeastern Argentina. Culicoides pifanoi Ortiz C.
pifanoi Ortiz, 1951: 588 (male, female; Venezuela); Wirth and
Blanton 1959: 384 (redescr.; Panama; syn.); Wirth and Blanton 1973:
444 (Pará record); Spinelli and Wirth 1986: 63 (Bahia record);
Wirth et al. 1988: 40 C. tricoloratus Wirth and Blanton 1953: 233 (female, male; Panamá). Specimens examined - Paraguay, Itapua, Refugio Atinguy, V-2004, A Ortiz - D López, 2 females, CDC light trap. Distribution - Belize to Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad, Brazil (Pará, Bahia), Paraguay (Itapua). Culicoides pseudocrescentis Tavares and Luna Dias C. pseudocrescentis Tavares and Luna Dias 1980: 397 (male; Brazil); Wirth et al. 1988: 30 (wing photo); Borkent and Spinelli 2000: 38 (in Neotropical catalog; distrib.). Specimens examined - Argentina, Misiones prov., Anyico stream and national route nr 14 (km 813, aproximately 30 kn N San José), 4-XI-2002, G Spinelli, 1 female, at light; Paraguay, Itapua, Bella Vista, IV-1998, A Ortiz - D López, 1 female, CDC light trap. Distribution - Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Paraguay (Itapua), Argentina (Misiones). Culicoides trilineatus Fox C.
trilineatus Fox, 1946: 250 (female; Virgin Islands); Wirth and
Blanton 1956: 189 (redescr.); Vitale et al. 1981: 146, 148 (in key,
C. debilipalpis group); Wirth et al. 1988: 50 (wing
photo); Borkent and Spinelli 2000: 42 Specimens examined - Paraguay, Itapua, Aguapey, 1/2-XI-2000, A Ortiz - D López, 1 female, CDC light trap. Distribution - Guatemala to Panama, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Dominica, Barbados, Paraguay. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To Drs Art Borkent, William Grogan for their detailed critical review of the manuscript acting as a journal referees. REFERENCES
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