Culicoides shivasi Bellis & Dyce

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 : 25-32

Culicoides shivasi Bellis & Dyce , sp. n.

Culicoides shivasi Bellis & Dyce , sp. n. ( Figs 4, 8 , 15, 16, 20 , 27, 28 , 34, 39 , 49, 50, 51 , 53 ). Immaculatus Gp sp.No2, Dyce et al. 2007:44 (female wing illustrated).

Type material examined. AUSTRALIA. Northern Territory: Holotype, Sadgroves Ck, Darwin, Light Trap, 12.Apr.1995, M. Shivas, (male, ANIC); Paratypes, same data as holotype (4 Ƥ, 4 3 ANIC; 4 Ƥ, 4 3 NTQIC); Barra Base, Bathurst Is, 19.Apr.1991, Lt. Tp. I. Hazelgrove (2 3, ANIC); Hudson Creek, 12°26'S, 130°55'E, 17.Sep.2009, L. Melville (43, NTQIC); Hudson Creek, 12°26'S, 130°55'E, 27.Nov.2008, N. Hunt (23, 3 Ƥ, NTQIC); Tree Point, 12°18'S, 131°01'E, 9.Oct.2006, G. Bellis (2 Ƥ, NTQIC).

Diagnosis. Eyes bare in both sexes. Female with antennal SCo distribution 1–8, one pair of STl and STc on each of 2–8, six to nine SCh on 2–8, fewer on distals. Male with antennal plume of SCh on 1–10, apicolateral processes on ninth tergite well developed, longer than basal width.

Description. Adults with eyes bare, 3rd palpal segment ( Fig 15 ) expanding apically then abruptly narrowed beyond a round, shallow, sensory pit with several protruding capitate sensilla. Legs ( Fig 27 ) with hind tibial comb ( Fig 28 ) bearing 4 spines, first or first and second longest. Haltere pale. Fourth tarsal segment of all legs cylindrical. Female eyes separated by a distance of up to 1 facet ( Fig 4 ). Male antenna ( Fig 39 ) with plume of more than 10 SCh on flagellomeres 2–10. Specimens lacking SCo on flagellomere 10 invariably bear a single basiconica in the position where SCo might otherwise be expected to be present. Hypopygium ( Fig 49 ) with apicolateral processes slightly longer than broad at base; caudal margin without median notch. Ninth sternite with caudomedial excavation absent or very shallow, ventral membrane with small proximal patch of spicules. Gonocoxite with dorsal root broadening to truncate apex. Aedeagus ( Fig 51 ) with moderately low basal arch (slightly more than 1/3 of total length), basal arms relatively stout, well sclerotised, joined by a broadly rounded ventral arch; distal process as long as basal arms, parallel sided with bifid tip bearing spiculate excavation medially, sclerotised lateral arms of distal process joined by a hyaline plate which extends to about half length of the process.

Distribution. Australia, NT ( Fig 53 ).

Biology. Shivas (1999) collected large numbers of this species both in light traps and biting humans in the downstream reaches of mangrove forest near Darwin, NT. He was not able to locate the breeding site but noted that adult females did not venture far from the mangrove forest.

Remarks. Male and female specimens of this species can be distinguished from C. agas and C. collessi by the lack of interfacetal hairs. Male C. shivasi can be distinguished from C. immaculatus by the longer apicolateral processes on the ninth tergite and much shallower excavation on the ninth sternite.

Differentiation of females of C. shivasi and C. immaculatus , which occur together in the NT, Australia, is problematic. The higher mean number of SCo on flagellomeres 2 and 3, the tendency for more mandibular teeth and larger spermathecae of female C. immaculatus is unlikely to enable reliable diagnosis of females in the absence of males.

Etymology. Named after Dr Martin Shivas in recognition of his contributions to the knowledge of mangrovebreeding species of Culicoides in northern Australia.

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.