Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus (Meigen, 1830)

William L. Grogan, Jr. & Lysyk, Timothy J., 2015, A revision of the biting midges in the Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus-stigma complex in North America with the description of a new species (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Insecta Mundi 2015 (441), pp. 1-24 : 11-12

Key to Nearctic Species in the Culicoides (Monoculicoides) nubeculosus - stigma Complex

1.

–– Females .......................................................................................................................................... 2 Males .............................................................................................................................................. 5 2.

Wing membrane and most veins transparent, with only a single dark spot (stigma) over 2 nd radial cell; spermatheca spherical, without hyaline punctations, with slender appendix-shaped extension opposite the spermathecal opening ......................................... C. stigma (Meigen)

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Wing membrane and veins infuscated with several faint to very dark maculations; spermatheca ovoidal to elongate ovoid, with numerous minute hyaline punctations, without slender appendix-shaped extension opposite the spermathecal opening ............................................ 3

3.

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Small species, wing length 1.33–1.39 mm; wing membrane with a few very faint dark maculations, posterior veins nearly imperceptible; palpal segment 3 with subapical pit bearing a single capitate sensilla; mandible vestigial, without teeth; spermatheca ovoid, very small, length 0.054 mm ...................................................................... C. grandensis Grogan and Phillips

Larger species, wing length 1.55–1.97 mm; wing with several or numerous dark maculations, posterior veins darkly infuscated; palpal segment 3 with subapical pit bearing numerous captitate sensilla; mandible with several well-developed teeth (rarely absent in some specimens of C. shemanchuki , new species); spermatheca more elongate ovoid, larger, length 0.064 –0.102 mm .............................................................................................................................................. 4

4.

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Palpal segment 3 moderately slender, palpal ratio 2.36 (2.06–2.83, n=13); mandible with 9–14 large, well-developed teeth; lacinia with 18–25 large teeth; wing veins and membrane dark brown with numerous large pale maculations; spermatheca moderately long, length 0.064 – 0.082 mm ......................................................................................................... C. riethi Kieffer

Palpal segment 3 stout, palpal ratio 1.70 (1.46–2.17, n=17); mandible with 2–7 small, poorly developed teeth (rarely without teeth); lacinia vestigial, without teeth; wing veins and membrane dusky brown with a few pale maculations; spermatheca longer, length 0.077 –0.102 mm .......................................................................................... C. shemanchuki , new species

5.

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Gonostylus long, abruptly tapering at mid-length, distal half slender; aedeagus with distal portion deeply bifurcate ............................................................................................................. 6

Gonostylus short, gradually tapering at distal 2/3 to apex; aedeagus with distal portion broad or slender, not bifurcate ............................................................................................................ 7

6.

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Wing membrane and most veins hyaline with only a single dark spot (stigma) over 2 nd radial cell; tergite 9 caudal margin with narrow, deep, V-shaped median notch C. stigma (Meigen)

Wing veins and membrane dark brown with several light spots; tergite 9 caudal margin with wide, shallow, V-shaped median notch .......................................................... C. riethi Kieffer

7.

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