Metacnephia nuragica Rivosecchi, Raastad and Contini, 1975

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 : 911-912

2. Metacnephia nuragica Rivosecchi, Raastad and Contini

Spain references: Carlsson (1969, Cnephia sp. ), GonzaÂlez PenÄa et al. (1986), GonzaÂlez PenÄa (1990), GonzaÂlez (1997).

Andalusia records

Authors’ material. Site 3: 7 (l1), 1m (1), 87 pupae, 39 larvae. Site 4: 3m (1), 89 pupae, 116 larvae. Site 5: 6 pupae, 122 larvae. Site 6: 1 larva. Site 83: 3 larvae. Site 84: 2 (l1), 1m (1), 23 pupae, 85 larvae. Site 85: 1 (l 1), 3m (1), 33 pupae, 14 larvae. Site 87: 1 pupa, 1 larva (19.iii.1996). Site 88: 4m (1), 38 pupae, 2 larvae (19.iii.1996), 1m, 46 pupae, 86 larvae (1.iii.1998). Site 89: 1. l Site 90: 12 pupae, 6 larvae.

Other specimens seen. 1m (pinned), AlmerõÂa : Rioja, 10 km N of AlmerõÂa , 200±500 m [ WF49 ], 12.iii.1966 (Lyneborg) ( ZMC) [listed as `Cnephia sp.’ in Carlsson, 1969] .

Previous reports. CoÂrdoba: Sierra Morena, Arroyo Los TeÂrminos (UH84447 1), RõÂo Yeguas (UH849466, UH95336 2) and RõÂo Fresnedoso (UH91415 1 [site now submerged beneath Yeguas embalse]) (refs GonzaÂlez PenÄa et al., 1986, GonzaÂlez PenÄa, 1990). (Also Carlsson, 1969: see data for specimens seen.)

Remarks

This species is mainly associated with stony seasonal rõÂos and arroyos in the Sierra Morena and its westward upland extension towards the Portuguese border. It is morphologically very similar to Metacnephia amphora Ladle and Bass from southern England and France and it is doubtful if the two are distinct species (Crosskey in Crosskey and Howard, 1997: 91). However, study of the larval polytene chromosomes (for nuragica based on specimens from our collection in the RõÂo Guadamatilla, Site 85) has shown that those of M. nuragica diOEer from those of M. amphora by one ®xed inversion in chromosome IIIL and by two ¯oating inversions (P. H. Adler, personal communication). These diOEerences do not prove that the two entities are separate valid species but we treat them as such pending better knowledge. Metacnephia nuragica can be readily recognized in the Andalusian fauna by the 14-®lamented pupal gill, cocoon in the form of a long loose net-like sleeve rasied anteriorly above the substrate (usually stuck to neighbouring cocoons), and by the amphora-shaped larval postgenal cleft.