Simulium (Eusimulium) velutinum (Santos Abreu)

Cherairia, Mouna, Adler, Peter H. & Samraoui, Boudjéma, 2014, Biodiversity and Bionomics of the Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Northeastern Algeria, Zootaxa 3796 (1), pp. 166-174 : 170

Simulium (Eusimulium) velutinum (Santos Abreu) complex

Simulium velutinum sensu lato previously was identified morphologically from the Tlemcen Mountains in northwestern Algeria ( Gagneur & Clergue-Gazeau 1988, Chaoui Boudghane-Bendiouis et al. 2012) and the Djurdjura Mountains in the eastern region ( Lounaci et al. 2000a, b). Our investigation provides the extreme northeastern records for Algeria. Second only to S. pseudequinum , the S. velutinum complex was the most common taxon. Our chromosomal examination of more than 300 larvae from the Seybouse Basin indicated the presence of three distinct species, the most common of which was true S. velutinum , representing about 82% of the larvae of the complex. The chromosomal results will be detailed elsewhere. Larvae and pupae of the complex occupied diverse habitats, representing 25 of our 31 sampling stations, from small permanent and temporary streams (0.5 m wide) to the largest rivers (35 m wide), with current macrovelocities from nearly imperceptible to 1.6 m /s, conductivity of 3–2330 µS/cm, and alkaline pH. Larvae and pupae were collected year round from stones, gravel, clay, and submerged vegetation at elevations from 26 to 852 m asl.

Sites: 1–17, 20–24, 28, 30, 31.