Willis W. Wirth

The Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of New Zealand’s subantarctic islands

Abstract A taxonomic study of midges collected in the subantarctic islands of New Zealand yielded 22 species of Chironomidae and 4 of Ceratopogonidae. Only four of the chironomids occur elsewhere, three on ‘mainland’ New Zealand and one on The Snares islands. Of the 15 species found on the Auckland Islands, 11 on Campbell Island, and 5 on the Antipodes Islands, respectively 9, 4, and 2 are endemic. Nine new species are proposed in existing genera: Parochlus rennelli, P. reductus, P. gressitti, P. brevis, Telmatogeton antipodensis, Eukiefferiella heveli, Cricotopus aucklandensis, Chironomus antipodensis, and C. subantarcticus. Gressittius n.gen. is proposed for Corethra antarctica Hudson (type-species). Semiocladius n.gen. is proposed for Camptocladius crassipennis Skuse, and S. kuscheli n.sp. is described. Eight further new genera are proposed, with the following new species as type-species: Kuschelius dentifer, Mecaorus elongatus, Pterosis wisei, Hevelius carinatus, Gynnidocladius pilulus, Nesiocladius g...

An Annotated Checklist of the Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) of Florida with a New Synonymy

We record 211 species of biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from 64 of the 67 Florida counties. Approximately 40% of all described Nearctic species occur in Florida, represented among 25 of the 37 North American genera. Florida county records are presented for each species based upon information gleaned from adult specimens in collections and from published and unpublished records. Recorded from Florida as new to the United States are: Culicoides jamaicensis Edwards (from Dade County) and Monohelea multilineata (Lutz) (from Lee County). Reported from Florida for the first time are: Forcipomyia baueri Wirth, Forcipomyia crinita Saunders, Forcipomyia johannseni Thomsen, Dasyhelea pollinosa Wirth, Johannsenomyia annulicornis Malloch, Mallochohelea caudellii (Coquillett), Mallochohelea spinipes Wirth, and Monohelea macfiei Wirth. Stilobezzia punctipes Wirth, 1953 was found to be a junior subjective synonym of Stilobezzia kiefferi Lane, 1947 (NEW SYNONYMY).

North America Culicoides of the Pulicaris Group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The 15 North American species of Culicoides of the Pulicaris Group are reviewed, of which 9 are described as new: canadensis, freeborni, frohnei, gregsoni, lahontan, montanus, neofagineus, sierrensis, and sommermanae. A key is presented for the identification of females, and information on the distribution, larval habitat, and biting habits is summarized. Three species are of some importance as pests, C. tristriatulus on Alaskan coastal tide flats, and C. canadensis and C. yukonensis in inland parts of Alaska and portions of Canada.

A Revision of the Neotropical Biting Midges of the Hylas Group of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae)

The seven Neotropical species of Culicoides related to hylas Macfie are revised, and a group diagnosis, a key to the species, descriptions of three new species, xanifer, polypori, and aitkeni, are included. The known species of this group breed in water-holding plants or in rotting parts or fruits of plants.

Research Reports: Description of Dasyhelea Chani New Species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Leaves of the Water Lettuce (Pistia Stratiotes) in Floirda

Dasyhelea chani new species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), whose immature stages are found on leaves of the water lettuce, Pistia stratiotes L., is described in the pupal and adult stages.

American predaceous midges of the subgenus Eukraiohelea of Stilobezzia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

A key is presented to distinguish the four species of the subgenus Eukraiohelea Ingram & Macfie of the genus Stilobezzia Kieffer that occur in the Western Hemisphere. Stilobezzia elegantula (Johannsen) and S. amnigena Macfie are redescribed and illustrated; the latter species is a new U.S. record. Males of S. amnigena were previously misidentified as S. elegantula in North America. S. maculitibia Lane & Forattini is a junior synonym of S. elegantula (New Synonymy).

Taxonomic Notes on the Genus Heteromyia Say, and a New Species from Nicaragua (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The 2 North American species of Heteromyia Say (fasciata, prattii) are differentiated and illustrated, and a key is provided. A new species, Heteromyia wokei from Nicaragua, is described and illustrated. The pupa of Heteromyia is described and illustrated for the 1st time from H. wokei and H. clavata Williston. Heteromyia rufa Kieffer and H. caloptera Kieffer are junior synonyms of H. clavata (NEW SYNONYMY).

Forcipomyia Pictoni Macfie and Descriptions of Two New Related Species from Florida (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) pictoni Macfie, a common and widespread Neotropical biting midge that is often found associated with cocoa as a pollinator, is redescribed in all stages, and new distribution records are given. Two new related species, F. seminole and F. beckae, are described from Florida.

New Genera and Species of West Indian Chironomidae (Diptera)

The following new genera and species of chironomid midges are described from the West Indies: Petalocladius new genus, type species P. setosus new species from Jamaica. Ancylocladius new genus, type species A. relicinus new species from Jamaica. Xestochironomus new name (for Insulanus Sublette, 1967, preoccupied by Insulanus Fleutiaux, 1930), type species Chironomus furcatus Johannsen, with the following new species: X. comptus from Jamaica and Panama; X. dominicanus from Dominica; X. flinti from Dominica; X. hobbsi from Dominica and Jamaica; X. luteifurcatus from Dominica; and X. nebulosus from Puerto Rico. Stenochironomus leptopus (Kieffer) is recorded from Dominica.

New Species and Synonymy of Florida Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Two new species of biting midges are described from Florida; Culicoides husseyi and C. torreyae. Culicoides khalafi Beck is a junior synonym of C. debilipalpis Lutz (new synonymy).