Culicoides gejgelensis Dzhafarov

(Figs 5, 6 a)

Culicoides gejgelensis Dzhafarov 1964: 282

Callot et al. 1965: 167 (male and female illustrated) Remm & Zhogolev 1968: 837 (male and female illustrated) Kremer et al. 1973: 61 (female wing illustrated, key) Gutsevich 1973: 139 (male and female illustrated)

Glukhova 1989: 245 (male and female illustrated).

Non type material examined. Slovakia, Bysta, 48°31′N, 21°33′E, 6.Jul.2012 (6 females), 15.Jul.2012 (1 male), 28.Jul.2012 (1 female), 24.Aug.2012 (3 females); Michalany, 48°30′N, 21°37′E, 26.Aug.2011 (1 female), 1.Oct.2011 (1 female), 20.Jun.2012 (1 female); Velaty, 48°31′N, 21°39′E, 7.Jul.2012 (1 female). France, Morsains, 48°48’N, 3°31’E, 26.Apr.2011 (1 female); Corsica, Calvi, 42°32’N, 8°45’E, 15.Jun.2001 (10 males and 10 females); Corsica, Cargèse, 42°8’N, 8°37’E, 4.Jun.2003 (3 females); Corsica, Sarrola Carcopino, 42°0’N, 8°50’E, 8.Aug.2002 (2 males, 1 female), 29.Aug.2002 (2 females), 27.Jun.2003 (3 males).

Diagnosis. Female: The only species of Culicoides with the following combination of characters: Wing patterned as in figure 5 with pale spot in distal part of each of cells r3, m1 and m2 and in proximal parts of m1 and m2, second radial cell wholly dark; macrotrichia absent from basal cell; SCo distribution 1–7,(8),9–13; spermathecal necks with a raised sclerotised ring (Fig. 6 a). Male: The only species of Culicoides with the following combination of characters: wing characters as described for female; aedeagus rectangular-shaped, relatively long and thick.

Distribution. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, France (including Corsica), Italy (including Sardinia and Sicily), Portugal, Spain, Ukraine and Slovakia.

Remarks. The raised sclerotized ring on the spermathecal necks of this species is unusual in Culicoides and can be used to distinguish females of this species from the otherwise very similar C. cataneii whose spermathecae lack necks (Fig. 6 b). Male C. gejgelensis are also most similar to C. cataneii although the aedeagus of the latter is shorter and wider.