María M. Ronderos

The bloodsucking biting midges of Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

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.

Diversity of biting midges of the genus Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the area of the Yacyretá Dam Lake between Argentina and Paraguay

The Culicoides communities have been analyzed between 1993/1998 in the area influenced by the Yacyret Dam Lake (Paran River, Argentina-Paraguay). Adults of Culicoides were collected monthly by using CDC light traps exposed for 24 h in 9 sampling sites located at both margins of the river; 21 species were recorded. Highest values of species richness were recorded during 1993/1994, being Quiteria and Corpus the sites with the higest number of species (10 and 11, respectively). The species diversity was elevated in Quiteria, Zaim n, Candelaria, Santa Tecla, Capit n Meza and Corpus (Shannons diversity index 1.0-1.9) while Corate , Ituzaing and Aguapey showed less richness and diversity. The more abundant species were C. insignis, C. venezuelensis, C. leopoldoi, C. limai, C. flinti, C. debilipalpis, C. paraensis and C. guttatus. C. insignis, potential vector of bluetongue virus (BTV) to domestic and wild rumiants in the Neotropical region, is the predominant species in the area and was the only species widely distributed. C. paraensis, a proven vector of Oropouche virus to humans, is a common and abundant species. C. pusillus and C. lahillei, potential vectors of BTV and a filarial parasite, respectively, were occasionally collected. The taxonomic structure of communities was constant during the study period. The occasional species were not characteristic to one particular site and their presence could be related to non-intrinsic conditions.

A new method using acid to clean and a technique for preparation of eggs of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) for Scanning Electron Microscope

Abstract A new procedure for clearing eggs belonging to genera of Ceratopogonidae is described. In the new procedure eggs in different states, with different ultra structures of the exochorion, were immersed in 10% glycolic acid (CH2OH-COOH) and 20 % mandellic acid (C6H5.CHOH.COOH) for 1–4 minutes. Eggs, prepared by both acids and subsequently neutralized by distilled water, were placed in a saturated solution of phenol, and then passed through a battery of alcohol solutions. Finally, critical point was performed and gold metallized. After preparation the eggs of this group retained their natural form under vacuum long enough to yield good microphotographs of the outer layer of the chorion.

A peculiar new species of Stilobezzia Kieffer breeding in bamboo internodes in northeastern Argentina (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Stilobezzia enigma, a new Neotropical species, is described and illustrated from larvae, pupae and adults. Larvae and pupae were collected from internodes of two bamboo species, Guadua chacoensis (Rojas) and Guadua trinii (Ness) Ness ex Rupr (Bambuseae) in Misiones province, Argentina, and were examined in the laboratory with a scanning electron microscope. The generic placement of S. enigma is somewhat uncertain but we provide cladistic evidence indicating that it is probably an autapomorphic member of Stilobezzia.

Redescription of pupa and adult of Stilobezzia fiebrigi Kieffer 1917 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract The adult of the predaceous midge Stilobezzia fiebrigi Kieffer is redescribed and illustrated by using binocular compound microscope, and the pupa is redescribed by using binocular microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope. Immature stages were collected as pupae in mud in flooded soil in Corrientes province, Argentina. Adult and pupae are compared with their similar congener Stilobezzia coquilletti Kieffer.

Five new species of Culicoides Latreille described from Colombia, yielding a new species list and country records (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following five new species of Culicoides from Colombia are described, illustrated and placed to subgenus or species group: Culicoides antioquiensis, Culicoides gabrieli, Culicoides inermis, Culicoides micayensis and Culicoides nigrifemur. C. gabrieli is also known from Peru. When possible, their position in previously published keys is indicated and their features discussed in light of the most recent revisions. A list of 180 Culicoides species known (114) or suspected of being in Colombia (66) is given in a Table. Of these, 12 including the new species are recorded from Colombia for the first time.

A new species of Stilobezzia Kieffer from the neotropical region (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae)

A new species from the Neotropical Region, Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) pseudopunctulata Cazorla & Ronderos, is described and illustrated based on male and female adults and pupal exuviae. Adults were collected in the Argentinian provinces of Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes and Buenos Aires, and in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The pupa was collected from mats of floating aquatic macrophytes in a lagoon in Ilha da Marchanteria, in the vicinities of Manaus, Brazil. This new species is compared with its similar congener Stilobezzia punctulata Lane, from which it can be mainly distinguished by the wing with only two dark spots, the parameres longer and hook-shaped, the pupal respiratory organ with 11-12 pores and the very short apicolateral processes of the anal segment.

A revision of the Patagonian predaceous midges of the genus Palpomyia Meigen (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

This revision of the predaceous midges in the genus Palpomyia Meigen inhabiting the Patagonian region of Argentina and Chile recognizes eight species, provides diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations and a key to all species, as well as new distributional records of previously described species. Four new species are described and illustrated: P . mapuche , P . marinoi , P . septentrionalis and P . yamana (spp. n.). Palpomyia patagonica Ingram and Macfie and P . subfuscula I. and M. are redescribed and illustrated, the previously unknown male of P . patagonica is described and illustrated, and P . subaspera (Coquillett) is recorded for the first time from Patagonia. Palpomyia chilensis Ingram & Macfie is transferred to Austrosphaeromias Spinelli (n. comb.).

A revision of the species allied to Dasyhelea patagonica Ingram and Macfie (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The Dasyhelea patagonica group is proposed to include seven species from Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia. Four new species, D. dellapei Díaz and Spinelli, D. fueguina Díaz and Spinelli, D. gargola Díaz and Spinelli and D. ona Díaz and Spinelli are described and illustrated based on the examination of adults through binocular compound microscope with attached camera lucida. Three previously known species, D. patagonica Ingram and Macfie, D. reynoldsi Ingram and Macfie and D. shannoni Ingram and Macfie are redescribed. Dasyhelea chilensis Ingram and Macfie is recognized as a junior synonym of D. patagonica Ingram and Macfie (new synonymy). A key to recognition of males and females of the seven species described is included.

Description of Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae sp. n., Forcipomyia musae immatures, and occurrence of F. genualis, breeding in banana stems in Brazilian Amazonia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following three species of Ceratopogonidae were collected breeding in the rhizomatous herb Phenakospermum guyannense Endl., 1833 in the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, a new species, Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae Spinelli, Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) genualis (Loew), and F. (Phytohelea) musae Clastrier & Dellécole. C. (M.) felippebauerae is described and illustrated as adult, pupa, and fourth instar larva, the adult compared with the adult of C. barthi Taveres and Souza and larva and pupa with those of C. dicrourus Wirth & Blanton and C. macieli Tavares & Ruiz, the only species with known immatures in the subgenus. The pupa and fourth instar larva of F. (P.) musae are described and illustrated and compared with immatures of F. (P.) edwardsi Saunders.