Culicoides agas Wirth & Hubert

Bel Li, G. A., Dyce, A. L., Gopurenko, D. & Mitchell, A., 2013, Revision of the Immaculatus Group of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from the Australasian Region with description of two new species, Zootaxa 3680 (1), pp. 15-37 : 23-24

Culicoides agas Wirth & Hubert

Culicoides agas Wirth & Hubert 1989:438 . ( Figs 1, 5 , 9, 10, 17 , 21, 22 , 29, 31, 35, 36 , 40, 41, 42 , 53 ) Culicoides agas, Dyce 1996:114 (redescription of female and description of male) Culicoides agas, Dyce et al. 2007:43 (female wing illustrated).

Non-type material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Sio, 13.Oct.1960, B. McMillan (Ƥ ANIC); Lae, 22.Mar.1963, beach, J. Sedlacek (Ƥ ANIC); Bougainville (S), Arawa Pl'n nr Kieta, 1m, 11.May.1956, J.L. Gressitt (3 Ƥ BPBM). SOLOMON ISLANDS: Guadalcanal, Tambea Village Beach, 13.Jan.1974 net 0700–0715 hr E.J. Reye (Ƥ, 3 3, ANIC).

Diagnosis. Eyes with interfacetal hairs, tibial comb with five spines and fourth tarsal segment chordate in both sexes. Female with SCo distribution 1,(2),3,(4),5–10, with single STc and more than two STl on 2–8; SCh fewer than four on 2–7 and absent from 8–13. Male with antennae entirely feminised, lacking plume aristae, aedeagus with deep basal arch, ninth tergite with well developed apicolateral processes.

Description. Wirth & Hubert (1989) and Dyce (1996) adequately described the adult male and female of this species.

Immatures. Unknown

Distribution. Indonesia: Maluku; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Is ( Fig 53 ).

Biology. Wirth & Hubert (1989) summarised the known biology of this species noting that it is regarded as a severe pest of humans near the seashore but did not travel inland to feed. Collection data of specimens examined in this study support the contention that this species occupies coastal habitats. Dyce (1996) suggested that the feminised antenna of male C. agas reflected a non-swarming mating strategy.

Remarks. The antennal sensilla arrangement of both sexes of C. agas differs significantly from the other three species of the Immaculatus Group. The presence of SCo and lack of SCh on distal flagellomeres and the shape of the palpal pit of the female, the feminisation of the male antenna, tibial comb and chordate 4th tarsal segment of both sexes separate this species from the others in the group.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 8. Eye separation and wing of female Culicoides Immaculatus Group species. 1, 5. C. agas Wirth & Hubert. 2, 6. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye. 3, 7. C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n. 4, 8. C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n.

FIGURES 9 – 20. Female Culicoides Immaculatus Group species. 9, 10, 17. C. agas Wirth & Hubert, mandibular teeth, palp and spermathecae. 11, 12, 18. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye, palp, mandibular teeth and spermathecae. 13, 14, 19. C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., mandibular teeth, palp and spermathecae. 15, 16, 20. C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., palp, mandibular teeth and spermathecae

FIGURES 21 – 28. Female Culicoides Immaculatus Group species. 21, 22. C. agas Wirth & Hubert, legs and tibial comb. 23, 24. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye, tibial comb and legs. 25, 26. C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., legs and tibial comb. 27, 28. C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., legs and tibial comb.

FIGURES 29 – 39. Antennae of Culicoides Immaculatus Group species. 29, 31, 35, 36. C. agas Wirth & Hubert, female flagellomere 4 and antenna and male flagellomere 4 and antenna. 30, 32, 37. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye, female flagellomere 4 and antenna and male antenna .. 33, 38. C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., female and male antenna 34, 39. C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., female and male antenna.

FIGURES 40 – 51. Male Culicoides Immaculatus Group species. 40 – 42. C. agas Wirth & Hubert, hypopygium, parameres and aedeagus. 43 – 45. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye, hypopygium, parameres and aedeagus. 46 – 48. C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., hypopygium, parameres and aedeagus. 49 – 51. C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n., hypopygium, parameres and aedeagus.

FIGURES 52 – 53. Distribution of Culicoides Immaculatus Group species based on published records (Lee & Reye 1953; Wirth & Hubert 1989, Dyce 1996) and specimens represented in ANIC and BPBM. 52. C. immaculatus Lee & Reye and C. collessi Bellis & Dyce sp. n. 53. C. agas Wirth & Hubert and C. shivasi Bellis & Dyce sp. n.