Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) incrustatum Lutz

HERNÁNDEZ, LUIS MIGUEL, SHELLEY, ANTHONY JOHN, DE LUNA DIAS, ANTONIO PAULINO ANDRADE & MAIA-HERZOG, MARILZA, 2007, New specific synonymies and taxonomic notes on Neotropical black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) belonging to the subgenera Chirostilbia Enderlein, Hemicnetha Enderlein, Inaequalium Coscarón & Wygodzinsky, Psaroniocompsa Enderlein and Psilopelmia Enderlein, Zootaxa 1506 (1), pp. 1-80 : 21-22

Simulium (Psaroniocompsa) incrustatum Lutz

( Figs. 33, 34 , 87 , 105 , 142–144 )

Simulium incrustatum Lutz, 1910: 243 . LECTOTYPE pupa. BRAZIL, Minas Gerais State, Mendes; [Without date or collector’s name.] (IOC) [Lectotype designated by Shelley et al., 1997: 24.] [Examined.]

Simulium aequifurcatum Lutz, 1910: 259 . HOLOTYPE pupa, BRAZIL [No collection locality, date or collector’s name.] (IOC) [Synonymy by Shelley et al., 1997: 25] [Examined.]

Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons Enderlein, 1934b: 192 . LECTOTYPE female, PARAGUAY: San Bernardino (Fiebrig) [No collection date.] (ZMHU, NM) [Examined.] [Lectotype designation by Wygodzinsky 1951: 218.] [Synonymy with S. incrustatum Lutz by Vargas & Díaz Nájera, 1953: 138.]

Simulium yarzabali Ramírez Pérez, 1980: 66 . HOLOTYPE female, VENEZUELA: Território Federal Amazonas, Departamento de Atabapo, Sierra de Parima, Mayuwëteri, 1050m, 1975–80, [Collector presumably J. Ramírez Pérez.] (IND). [Synonymy with S. incrustatum Lutz by Ramírez Pérez, 1983: 9; revalidation by Shelley et al., 1987: 463; synonymy by Shelley et al., 1997: 24.]

The taxonomy of S. incrustatum , which was described by Lutz in 1910, and its synonymies have been fully discussed in Shelley et al. (1997) and we agree with the synonymies and comments given in that publication. These authors believed that the morphological and behavioural differences in populations of S. incrustatum suggest the presence of a species complex.

While studying type material of species described by Enderlein, we examined type specimens of S. opalinifrons (Enderlein) and have the following comments to make. Enderlein (1934b) described Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons from Paraguay based on several syntype females, which were deposited in NMHU and NM. In 1951 Wygodzinsky published descriptions and taxonomic notes on two anthropophilic species from northeastern Argentina ( S. jujuyense and S. exiguum ) and included S. opalinifrons from Paraguay, because all were easily recognized by their black colour and small size. He described female S. opalinifrons from two females labelled “Typus” in the NMHU, designated one pinned female as lectoholotype [= lectotype] and dissected the remaining paralectotype for his description. He commented that although S. opalinifrons superficially resembled S. exiguum they are morphologically distinct. Vargas & Díaz Nájera (1953) then examined the two specimens seen by Wygodzinsky and compared them with S. incrustatum from Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela. They concluded that S. opalinifrons was a synonym of S. incrustatum .

In a later paper Stone (1962) examined type specimens of 12 Enderlein species and produced several new synonyms and selected several lectotypes. Stone followed this paper in 1963 with an annotated list of genus group names in the family Simuliidae . In this he maintained that S. opalinifrons was more closely related to S. incrustatum and S. guttatum (Enderlein) [as Pliodasina guttata Enderlein , now a synonym of S. jujuyense in this paper] because of similarities in the nudiocular triangle, paraproct and arrangement of scutal setae. We have now examined the type material of Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons in the NMHU and NM. In the NMHU there are three specimens from the original syntype series. The pinned lectotype and paralectotype females, and the paralectotype female mounted on a slide by Wygodzinsky are all S. incrustatum . In the NM the six pinned females from the original syntype series are conspecific with the three specimens in the NMHU, and have been labelled as paralectotypes. We have examined this material and taken digital images of the lectotype of Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons prior to dissection of the head, wings, abdomen and legs, which are now on a slide. The general morphology of the thoracic pattern ( Figs. 33, 34 ), head (cibarium and nudiocular area, Figs. 87 , 105 ), leg coloration, wing venation and genitalia ( Figs. 142–144 ) fall within the variation of found in S. incrustatum , and we agree with Vargas & Díaz Nájera (1953) synonymy.

Simulium incrustatum is more prevalent in highland areas, but may occur in adjacent lowland areas of Brazil (see Shelley et al., 1997). It is a widespread species occurring in various Brazilian States (Material Examined) and in other countries of South America: Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Panamá, Paraguay, Trinidad and Venezuela (Material Examined; Coscarón, 1987, 1991; Coscarón & Wygodzinsky, 1973; Shelley et al., 1997). Simulium incrustatum is typically found breeding in shaded, smaller streams and rivers in mountainous areas throughout Brazil and elsewhere. Larvae and pupae are found attached to submerged vegetation ( Coscarón, 1987, 1991; Ramírez Pérez, 1983; Shelley et al., 1997). It is anthropophilic in many areas such as the Atlantic forest of Brazil and the onchocerciasis foci of Ecuador, southern Venezuela and Brazil ( Shelley et al., 1997). It is the secondary vector of O. volvulus in the highland areas of the onchocerciasis focus of Brazil and Venezuela and a suspected vector in one of the satellite foci of onchocerciasis in Ecuador ( Shelley et al., 1997). At the secondary focus of onchocerciasis in central Brazil it may have been involved in parasite transmission because it allows rapid development of the parasite to the infective stage ( Shelley et al., 2000).

Figures

PLATE 3. FIGURES 33–44. Colour patterns of the female thorax. For each species first figure is with anterior illumination and second figure with posterior illumination. 33, 34: Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons holotype; 35, 36: S. jujuyense (Argentina); 37, 38: S. auripellitum holotype; 39, 40: S. auripellitum (Brazil); 41, 42: Pliodasina guttata holotype; 43, 44: S. bonaerense holotype.

PLATE 6. FIGURES 79–96. Female nudiocular area. 79: Thyrsopelma striginotum holotype; 80: S. pillosum holotype; 81: S. dekeyseri paratype; 82: S. acarayense paratype; 83: Trichodagmia manicata lectotype; 84: Thyrsopelma argentata holotype; 85: S. clarki paratype; 86: S. subnigrum (Brazil); 87: Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons holotype; 88: S. jujuyense (Argentina); 89: S. auripellitum holotype; 90: Pliodasina guttata holotype; 91: S. bonaerense paratype; 92: S. minuanum paratype; 93: S. costaricensis holotye; 94: S. spinifer holotype; 95: S. hoffmani lectotype; 96: S. sicuani lectotype.

PLATE 7. FIGURES 97–114. Female cibarium. 97: Thyrsopelma striginotum holotype; 98: S. pillosum holotype; 99: S. dekeyseri paratype; 100: S. acarayense paratype; 101: Trichodagmia manicata lectotype; 102: Thyrsopelma argentata holotype; 103: S. clarki paratype; 104: S. subnigrum (Brazil); 105: Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons holotype; 106: S. jujuyense (Argentina); 107: S. auripellitum holotype; 108: Pliodasina guttata holotype; 109: S. bonaerense paratype; 110: S. minuanum paratype; 111: S. costaricensis holotye; 112: S. spinifer holotype; 113: S. hoffmani lectotype; 114: S. sicuani lectotype.

PLATE 10. FIGURES 142–156. Female genitalia (cercus and paraproct, eighth sternite and gonopophyses (except for S. costaricensis).142–144: Psaroniocompsa opalinifrons holotype; 145–147: S. jujuyense (Argentina); 148–150: S. auripellitum holotype; 151–153: Pliodasina guttata holotype; 154–156: S. bonaerense paratype.