The biting and predaceous midges of Guadeloupe (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Species of the subfamily Ceratopogoninae

We provide new records of biting and predaceous midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Guadeloupe in the subfamily Ceratopogoninae, including descriptions and illustrations of three new predaceous species in the genera, Parabezzia Malloch, Stilobezzia Kieffer and Palpomyia Meigen, respectively, and the first records of the New World predaceous genus, Amerohelea Grogan and Wirth, from the Caribbean region. We also provide the first Guadeloupe records of the biting midges, Culicoides (Anilomyia) decor (Williston), C. (Avaritia) pusillus Lutz, C. (Drymodesmyia) bredini Wirth and Blanton, C. (D.) poikilonotus Macfie, C. (Haematomyidium) hoffmani Fox, C. (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz, C. rangeli Ortiz and Mirsa and C. trilineatus Fox, and the predaceous midges, Brachypogon (Brachypogon) bifidus Spinelli and Grogan, B. (B.) telesfordi Spinelli and Grogan, B. (B.) woodruffi Spinelli and Grogan, Monohelea maya Felippe-Bauer, Huerta and Ibáñez-Bernal, Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) diminuta Lane and Forattini, S. (S.) thomsenae Wirth, Amerohelea galindoi Grogan and Wirth, Bezzia (Bezzia) flinti Spinelli and Wirth, B. (Homobezzia) venustula (Williston) and Palpomyia insularis Spinelli and Grogan

Biting midges (Ceratopogonidae: Diptera) present in aquatic macrophytes from wetlands of Marchantaria Island, Iranduba, Central Amazonia, Brazil

Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) are easily found in both aquatic and semi-aquatic sites under various environmental conditions, where their immature stages develop in areas of nutrient richness. Material was collected from six wetland areas in Ilha da Marchantaria, Iranduba, Amazonas, between July and October 2010 and February and June 2011 throughout the Amazon River’s cycle (receding and flooding stages), in aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia auriculata. The collections produced 431 immature individuals: 191 (44.3%) in E. crassipes, 125 (29%) in P. stratiotes and 115 (26.7%) in S. auriculata. After development in the laboratory 16 species were identified belonging to the following genera: Alluaudomyia Kieffer, Bezzia Kieffer, Dasyhelea Kieffer, Forcipomyia Meigen, Heteromyia Say, Neobezzia Wirth and Ratanaworabhan, Palpomyia Meigen, Paryphoconus Enderlein and Stilobezzia Kieffer. Aquatic macrophytes are excellent substrates for immature Ceratopogonidae, which are important because of their value to the balance of biodiversity in ceratofauna in wetlands.Fil: Torreias, Sharlene R. S.. Laboratório de Citotaxonomia e Insetos Aquáticos , Coordenação de Biodiversidade – CBio, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA; BrasilFil: Ferreira Keppler, R. L.. Laboratório de Citotaxonomia e Insetos Aquáticos , Coordenação de Biodiversidade – CBio, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia – INPA; BrasilFil: Ronderos, Maria Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); Argentin

A new species of Dasyhelea from Brazilian Amazonas and the description of the male of D. paulistana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

A new species, Dasyhelea pseudopollinosa Díaz & Ronderos sp. nov., is described from Brazil, illustrated and photographed as pupae and male and female adults. The male of D. paulistana Forattini & Rabello, 1957 is described for the ¿ rst time, and the pupa and female adult are redescribed. Pupae of both species were collected from mats of À oating fern leaves (Salviniaceae and Azollaceae) in Brazil and Argentina, and exhibit a respiratory organ which is thick at the base and tapering to a sharp apex, and segment 9 with elongate, slender apicolateral process. Diffe rences between the two species are established, and they are also compared with Nearctic congeners that have the same kind of pupa: D. pollinosa Wirth, 1952, D. traverae Thomsen, 1935, and D. chani Wirth & Linley, 1990.Fil: Diaz, Maria Florentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Torreias, Sharlene R. S..Fil: Spinelli, Gustavo Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ronderos, Maria Marcela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (i); Argentin

Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from an urban forest fragment in Central Amazon (Brazil): Effects of opening areas on abundance, richness, and composition

We assessed the immature stages of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) in artificial containers in an urban forest fragment in Manaus (Brazil), including their behavioral, biological and ecological information. In addition, we evaluated the effects of deforestation in an open and forested area on Ceratopogonidae communities. Immatures were sampled between August 2012 and July 2014 in artificial containers installed in both habitat types. We collected 685 immatures of seven morpho-species of Bezzia Kieffer, Culicoides Latreille, Dasyhelea Kieffer, Forcipomyia Meigen, and Palpomyia Meigen. In the open area, we recorded higher temperature and electrical conductivity values than in the forested area; however, these variables did not differ between seasons. Water volume was higher in open area and in rainy season, while pH was similar in both areas and seasons. Species richness was higher in forested area, but did not differ between seasons. We did not record differences in abundance between areas or seasons. Community composition differed between areas, but not between seasons. We provide the first records of Culicoides (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz and C. (Haematomyidium) quasiparaensis Clastrier in artificial containers from the state of Amazonas. Our results suggest that the preservation of forested areas in Amazonas is fundamental for the maintenance of the life cycle of some species of Ceratopogonidae.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Description of Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae sp. n., Forcipomyia musae immatures, and occurrence of F. genualis, breeding in banana stems in Brazilian Amazonia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

The following three species of Ceratopogonidae were collected breeding in the rhizomatous herb Phenakospermum guyannense Endl., 1833 in the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, a new species, Culicoides (Mataemyia) felippebauerae Spinelli, Forcipomyia (Forcipomyia) genualis (Loew), and F. (Phytohelea) musae Clastrier & Dellécole. C. (M.) felippebauerae is described and illustrated as adult, pupa, and fourth instar larva, the adult compared with the adult of C. barthi Taveres and Souza and larva and pupa with those of C. dicrourus Wirth & Blanton and C. macieli Tavares & Ruiz, the only species with known immatures in the subgenus. The pupa and fourth instar larva of F. (P.) musae are described and illustrated and compared with immatures of F. (P.) edwardsi Saunders

Description of fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

The fourth instar larva and pupa of Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone are described for the first time. The immatures were collected from stream margins in the northern Brazilian states Rondônia and Piauí, and subsequently reared to adults. Larvae and pupae are illustrated and photomicrographed. Details on the rearing process and feeding behavior in laboratory, bionomics and notes on habitats are also provided

Estudio ecológico sobre una población domiciliaria de Triatoma infestans klug de la Provincia Biogeográfica Chaqueña

A typical country house located in an endemic chagasic area (La Batea, Córdoba,Argentina), was completely demolished on order lo look primarily upon the numerical level achieved by triatomines population as well as to establish distribution patterns and habitat preference. Furthermore, some emergent population parameters and attributes were studied, such as density, fecundity, age, structure and sex ratio. Triatoma infestans was the only well established resident population species in thedomestic boundary, even though very few individuals belonging to the congeneric T. guasayana were detected in coexistence with the former species. A low degree of egg's parasitism by microhymenoptera was found. Ninety six sample units were taken during demolition in the bedroom’s walls in ordor to count number of eggs per unit and calculation of a dispersión index. Three removal methods for relative estimates were tested before the demolition took place, which were compared with values obtained from direct counting while demolition. Our results show a high degree of crowding and different habitat preference fornymphs, adults and oviposition microhabitats. T. infestaos population seems to be still well below the carrying capacity of the environment. The use of a feeding index, to calculate number of bites per day and person, required to satisfy “vinchucas” feeding needs, alowed us to postulate T. infestaos domestic population haven't yet developed an intensive intraspecific competition. This is so because the studied population would be undergoing an expansión stage of growing.A typical country house located in an endemic chagasic area (La Batea, Córdoba,Argentina), was completely demolished on order lo look primarily upon the numerical level achieved by triatomines population as well as to establish distribution patterns and habitat preference. Furthermore, some emergent population parameters and attributes were studied, such as density, fecundity, age, structure and sex ratio. Triatoma infestans was the only well established resident population species in thedomestic boundary, even though very few individuals belonging to the congeneric T. guasayana were detected in coexistence with the former species. A low degree of egg's parasitism by microhymenoptera was found. Ninety six sample units were taken during demolition in the bedroom’s walls in ordor to count number of eggs per unit and calculation of a dispersión index. Three removal methods for relative estimates were tested before the demolition took place, which were compared with values obtained from direct counting while demolition. Our results show a high degree of crowding and different habitat preference fornymphs, adults and oviposition microhabitats. T. infestaos population seems to be still well below the carrying capacity of the environment. The use of a feeding index, to calculate number of bites per day and person, required to satisfy “vinchucas” feeding needs, alowed us to postulate T. infestaos domestic population haven't yet developed an intensive intraspecific competition. This is so because the studied population would be undergoing an expansión stage of growing

Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from an urban forest fragment in Central Amazon (Brazil): Effects of opening areas on abundance, richness, and composition

We assessed the immature stages of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) in artificial containers in an urban forest fragment in Manaus (Brazil), including their behavioral, biological and ecological information. In addition, we evaluated the effects of deforestation in an open and forested area on Ceratopogonidae communities. Immatures were sampled between August 2012 and July 2014 in artificial containers installed in both habitat types. We collected 685 immatures of seven morpho-species of Bezzia Kieffer, Culicoides Latreille, Dasyhelea Kieffer, Forcipomyia Meigen, and Palpomyia Meigen. In the open area, we recorded higher temperature and electrical conductivity values than in the forested area; however, these variables did not differ between seasons. Water volume was higher in open area and in rainy season, while pH was similar in both areas and seasons. Species richness was higher in forested area, but did not differ between seasons. We did not record differences in abundance between areas or seasons. Community composition differed between areas, but not between seasons. We provide the first records of Culicoides (Hoffmania) insignis Lutz and C. (Haematomyidium) quasiparaensis Clastrier in artificial containers from the state of Amazonas. Our results suggest that the preservation of forested areas in Amazonas is fundamental for the maintenance of the life cycle of some species of Ceratopogonidae.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de VectoresFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse