Culicoides (S.) similis Carter, Ingram & Macfie, 1920

Pielowska-Ceranowska, Agata & Szwedo, Jacek, 2020, Wing Interference Patterns in patterned wings of Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) - exploring potential identification tool, Zootaxa 4868 (3), pp. 389-407 : 399

Culicoides (S.) similis Carter, Ingram & Macfie, 1920

( Fig. 9a, b )

Chemical pigmentation ( Fig. 10a ). Light spots on a dark background. Pigment patterns with clearly defined boundaries. Cell r2, including distal part of C vein, dark. Light streak in the R-M crossvein area. Two pale spots in the medial part of the wing. Three light patches in the r3 cell; proximal one abuts with distal end of C vein and covers the wing edge. Two light spots in m1 cell; proximal one rather narrow, elongated. Single spot in m2 cell. Irregular, light patch in cua1 cell, abuts with wing margin. In the anal cell, two uneven merged, light spots, including whole width of anal margin.

Interference patterns ( Fig. 10b ). Dominant colours: blue, purple, pale orange. Structural colours in place of naturally occurring bright spots, pale orange. Proximal spot in the r3 cell significantly brighter than others, multicoloured. Interference colours corresponding to the dark pigment on the wings in shades of blue and purple. Venation quite clearly marked.

Pigmentation correspond to WIP colours, venation and sculpture more clearly differentiated in WIP.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Culicoides similis (female—18), a—photograph of wing on white background, b—WIP visualization.

FIGURE 10. Culicoides tropicalis (female—19), a—photograph of wing on white background, b—WIP visualization.