Culicoides clastrieri Callot et al

(Figs 2,3)

Culicoides clastrieri Callot et al. 1962: 156 Kremer 1965: 149 (description of male and female, key) Callot et al. 1972: 761 (pharangeal armature of female illustrated) Kremer et al. 1973: 61 (notes, female wing illustrated, key) Gutsevich 1973: 138 (notes)

Glukhova 1989: 249 (notes)

Mathieu et al. 2012 (included in key).

Type material examined. France, Krautergersheim, 24.Jun.1961 (Holotype label 2009-B-351, female); route de Sélestat, 31.May.1961 (Paratype label 1917-B-223, male).

Non type material examined. Slovakia, Rozhanovce, 48°45′N, 21°21′E, 13.May.2011 (1 male), 6.Jul.2011 (1 female), 12.Jul.2012 (1 female), 4.Jul.2012 (2 females), 23.May.2012 (1 male), 11.Jul.2013 (1 male), 17.Jul.2013 (1 female); Velaty, 48°31′N, 21°39′E, 25.Aug.2012 (1 male). France, Haslach, 22.Jul.1967 (1 female), 29.Jun.1971 (1 female); Corsica, Aléria, 42°06’N, 9°29’E, 18.Jun.2002 (1 female).

Diagnosis. Female: The only species of Palearctic Culicoides with the combination of an elongated pale spot in m cell reaching the mediocubital fork, a yellowish thorax (Fig. 3) and SCo present on 1, 9-13. Male: the only species of Palearctic Culicoides with the combination of an elongated pale spot in m cell reaching the mediocubital fork and a yellowish thorax.

Distribution. Bosnia and Herzegovina, United Kingdom, France (including Corsica), Germany, Italia, Poland, Ukraine, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Remarks. C. clastrieri is most similar to C. festivipennis but females of the latter species have a SCo distribution of 1–13 and both sexes have a brownish thorax with paler areas surrounded by darker ones (Fig. 4).