Gustavo Ricardo Spinelli

Observations on the immatures of Dasyhelea necrophila Spinelli & Rodríguez in laboratory (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract Data obtained from observations in the laboratory on the morphology and biology of immatures of Dasyhelea necrophila Spinelli & Rodriguez are provided. Eggs and larvae were collected from containers with rain water and organic matter in Gonnet, La Plata, Argentina. The C-shaped eggs were able to resist desiccations of approximately 48 hours. Hydrated eggs developed in 7–10 days and the emerging larvae (instar I) remained immobile during 30 minutes. The first molt took place inside the eggs exposed to drought periods. These eggs started to break when rehydrated and after 24 hours larvae II were born. Larva I showed positive phototropism and due to the fact that the processes of the last segment are still internal, it hardly moved. The pupa did not show any changes when placed under artifical light and remained immobile for short periods at the bottom of the glass tube. The larva in their different instars and the pupa increased mobility with the increase of temperature.

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).

New Neotropical species of Downeshelea Wirth and Grogan and redescription of D. multilineata (Lutz) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

ABSTRACT Seven new species of Downeshelea Wirth and Grogan 1988 – D. casimirensis, D. costaricensis, D. eclectica, D. jarina, D. litorale, D. marambaia and D. moravia – are described and illustrated based on male and female specimens from Central and South America. The new species are compared with their similar congener D. multilineata (Lutz). A redescription of D. multilineata is presented and its neotype designated. These eight species were included in the multilineata species group, and a diagnosis and identification key are presented for each. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9FC2A016-1295-4047-877E-BC9030BD2BD2

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.

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.

The immatures of Culicoides lacustris Ronderos (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Larva and pupa of the Patagonian species Culicoides lacustris Ronderos are described in detail with phase-contrast microscope at oil immersion and scanning electron microscope. Studied specimens were collected in a wetland, alongside to the Provincial Route 12, between the cities of Esquel and Gualjaina in the Chubut Province. They are compared with the more similar congener, Culicoides venezuelensis Ortiz & Mirsa.