Simulium (Obuchovia) galloprovinciale Giudicelli, 1963

Crosskey, Roger W. & Crosskey, Margaret E., 2000, An investigation of the black ¯ y fauna of Andalusia, southern Spain (Diptera: Simuliidae), Journal of Natural History 34 (6), pp. 895-951 : 925

16. Simulium (Obuchovia) galloprovinciale Giudicelli

Spain references: Crosskey and Santos GraÂcio (1985: 159), GonzaÂlez PenÄa (1990, map symbol only, based on Crosskey and Santos GraÂcio), GonzaÂlez (1997, as galloprovincialis).

Andalusia records

Authors’ material. Site 118: 7 pupae (18.v.1986). Site 119: 3 (l 1), 4m (1), 77 pupae, 12 larvae (18.v.1986), 1 larva (8.iv.1994). Site 120: 85 pupae, 141 larvae (3.viii.1974). Site 122: 4 larvae. Site 124: 3 larvae. Site 126: 21 larvae. Site 128: 2m (1), 5 pupae, 1 larva.

Previous reports. Only that of Crosskey and Santos GraÂcio (1985: 159) based on material collected by RWC and here included in the authors’ material listed above. [Note. The UTM reference/altitude cited as`WG0290, 1300 m’ in this earlier work should be`WG0595, 1050 m’ now that the position of the collecting point (Site 120) has been more accurately determined.]

Remarks

This rare species is known only from a few sites in southern France (type locality), central Italy and southern Spain (where it was ®rst discovered by us in 1974 and where it is con®ned to the headwaters region of the RõÂo Guadalquivir). The early stages attach to cascade bedrock and are easily recognized, the massive pupa being deeply recessed in a long boot-shaped cocoon that completely conceals the rather evenly spread branches of the six-®lamented gill (®gures 38, 39) and the mature larvae by their large size (length up to 11 mm) and black appearance to the naked eye. Larval body shape is characteristic of species inhabiting cascades, the abdominal outline widening gradually to the hind end and then sharply contracting to the posterior circlet. Cocoons typically reēct a silvery sheen because of their tough and closely woven construction in which strandwork is virtually undetectable.

Two other species of the subgenus Obuchovia occur in the Iberian peninsula, S. auricoma Meigen (Pyrenees, Cantabrians, northern Portugal) and S. ibericum Crosskey and Santos GraÂcio (northern Portugal, central Spain). Crosskey and Santos GraÂcio (1985) give a key for diOEerentiation of the pupae.