Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan, 1971

Fasbender, Andrew, 2023, Revision of the New World Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae, Ceratopogonini), European Journal of Taxonomy 875, pp. 159-202 : 162-167

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2023.875.2147
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:32FA008C-B35D-483C-9DBE-1DCCD0868FAC
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8083777
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D887BE-8176-3622-29B8-FB6A44740D74
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan, 1971
status

Treatment

Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan, 1971 View in CoL View at ENA

Figs 1–12 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan, 1971: 170 View in CoL .

Ceratoculicoides View in CoL – Downes & Wirth 1981: 408 (included in genus key). — Knoz 1987: 391 (diagnosis), 388 (species key). — Wirth & Grogan 1988: 6 (included in genus key), 39 (diagnosis). — Borkent 1992: 434 (included in genus key). — Borkent & Wirth 1997: 95 (in catalog). — Huerta & Borkent 2005: 114 (catalog). — Borkent et al. 2009: 413 (included in genus key). — Borkent & Dominiak 2020: 157 (in catalog).

Type species

Helealongipennis Wirth, 1952: 170 (by original designation).

Diagnosis (adult)

Anepisternum with 1–3 setae along posterior margin, katepisternum with 2–4 setae. Tarsomere 1 of hind leg with palisade setae. Wing cells r 1 and r 2 reduced, M 2 base obsolete.

Description

Male

HEAD. Cranium brown. Antenna brown with 13 flagellomeres, 7–11 always fused, fusion sometimes including flagellomeres 5 and 6 as well; 2–3 sensilla coeloconica on 1, flagellomeres 1–10 with plume, 11–12 with ring of laterally directed trichoid sensilla at base, 13 with apical trichoid sensillum, AR 0.65–1.02, FR 1.49–1.92. Eyes separated medially by diameter of 3–5 ommatidia, ommatrichia present. Palpus brown, with 5 segments, 3 rd with sensory pit.

THORAX. Scutum, scutellum and pleural sclerites dark brown without distinct coloration patterns; scutum without anteromedial tubercle, humeral pits poorly developed, often with punctations present among dorsocentrals. Anepisternum with 1–3 setae along posterior margin, katepisternum with 2–4 setae.

WING. Cells r 1 and r 2 reduced, M 2 base obsolete. Membrane with microtrichia, macrotrichia present only on C and R; membrane unpatterned, without macrotrichia.

LEGS. Femora, tibiae without spines; spur formula 1-0-1, hindleg spur pectinate. Hind 1 st tarsomere with single row of palisade setae; all tarsal claws equal-sized, without accessory teeth, straight, apex minutely bifid.

PREGENITAL ABDOMEN. Brown, without distinct coloration patterns, margins roughly parallel to genitalia.

GENITALIA. Epandrium with apicolateral processes present, cerci and proctiger near posterior margin of epandrium directed ventrally. Gonocoxite cylindrical; gonocoxal apodeme quadrate anteriorly, triangular posteriorly; gonostylus simple, subequal in length to gonocoxite, weakly curved at tip. Sternite 9 (hypandrium) slightly tapering anteriorly, length/width ratio 0.33, with medial emargination. Parameres separate or weakly fused at base; articulating with anterior portion of gonocoxal apodeme, apical arms of paramere stylate, directed posteriorly at distinct angle from base, midpoint arched dorsally in lateral view, apex of paramere ventrally directed, extending to apex of aedeagus or beyond. Aedeagus heavily sclerotized, with or without apical hyaline incision medially, with distinct basal arms articulated on anterior portion of gonocoxal apodeme, posterolateral point present, of variable form.

Female

HEAD. All flagellomeres separate, without plume, AR 1.08–1.33, FR 1.37–1.83. Mandible with 8 teeth.

THORAX. Dorsocentral portion of scutum with numerous punctations.

WING. Membrane with scattered macrotrichia along apical margin.

LEGS. Fore-, midleg tarsal claws longer than those of hindleg, equal or slightly unequally sized, gently curving along length, apex with simple point.

PREGENITAL ABDOMEN. Margins convex, widest at approximately ⅓ length in specimens fully laden with eggs, posteriorly tapering to rounded apex.

GENITALIA. Tergite 9 simple, bandlike. Sternite 8 simple, undivided. Sternite 9 narrow at base, apex crescent-shaped. 1–2 major spermathecae and a very small third spermatheca usually present. Spermathecal necks weakly curved, spermathecal neck ratio 0.14–0.32.

Immature stages

Currently unknown.

Key to adult male New World Ceratoculicoides View in CoL

The male lifestage of Ceratoculicoides longipennis from California is currently unknown. A poorly preserved male specimen from California that may be conspecific with C.longipennis is included as C. sp. M1 in the key. The distribution of each species is noted in brackets.

1. Apex of paramere broadly rounded, minimally tapering to apex, minute apical point laterally displaced ( Fig. 9b View Fig ) [eastern North America ( Canada and USA)] ........ C.virginianus ( Wirth, 1951) View in CoL

– Apex of paramere acute, paramere evenly tapers to apical point that is not laterally displaced ( Fig. 9e, h View Fig ) ........................................................................................................................................ 2

2. Lateral margin of aedeagus evenly convex, without constriction ( Fig. 8c, f, i View Fig ) .............................. 3

– Lateral margin of aedeagus straight ( Fig. 10c View Fig ), apically constricted ( Figs 9c View Fig , 10e, h View Fig ) or concave ( Fig. 9f, i View Fig ) ......................................................................................................................................... 4

3. Medial apex of aedeagus with hyaline incision, length of dorsolateral spines>0.5 width of apex of aedeagus ( Fig. 8i View Fig ) [Pacific Northwest ( Canada and USA)] ............................... C. pacificus sp. nov.

– Medial apex of aedeagus uniformly sclerotized, without hyaline medial incision, length of dorsolateral spines>0.25 width of apex of aedeagus ( Fig. 8c, f View Fig ) [eastern North America ( Canada and USA) and Colombia].. .......................................................................................................... C.confusus sp. nov.

4. Aedeagus with posteromedial hyaline incision extending nearly to basal arch, anterior apex broad ( Fig. 9f View Fig ) [Southwestern United States, Rocky Mountains ( USA), Vancouver Island ( Canada)] ........ ............................................................................................................................. C.borkenti sp. nov.

– Aedeagus hyaline incision tapering or obscure anteriorly ( Figs 9i View Fig , 10h, k View Fig ) .................................... 5

5. Aedeagus lateral margins narrowed apically, posterior margin of aedeagus with distinct notch ( Fig. 10e View Fig ) [Jalisco ( Mexico)] ...................................................... C.aliciae Huerta & Borkent, 2005 View in CoL

– Aedeagus lateral margins straight, posterior margin an even arc, without notch ( Figs 9i View Fig , 10c, k View Fig ) [Pacific Northwest and California ( Canada and USA)] ................................................................... 6

6. Posterolateral point of aedeagus an acutely pointed spine, much longer than basal width, apex directed laterally ( Fig. 9i View Fig ) [Oregon and California ( USA)] ................................. C.grogani sp. nov.

– Posterolateral point of aedeagus rounded, length subequal to basal width, directed slightly anteriorly ( Fig. 10c, k View Fig ) ...................................................................................................................................... 7

7. Accessory points present between apical and posterolateral points of aedeagus ( Fig. 10c View Fig ), wing length> 1.1 mm [California ( USA)] ................................................................................... C. sp. M1

– Accessory points absent between apical and posterolateral points of aedeagus ( Fig. 10k View Fig ), wing length <1.1 mm [British Columbia ( Canada) and California ( USA)] ........... C.propinquus sp. nov.

Key to the adult female New World Ceratoculicoides View in CoL

Ceratoculicoideslongipennis from California, known only as a female, is not included in the following key. Three female morphotypes are included but not formally named (see taxonomic discussions below). Individual species distributions are noted in brackets.

1. Medial margin of female genital sclerotization on sternite 9 almost straight ( Fig. 11e View Fig ) [Oregon and California ( USA)] ................................................................................................ C.grogani sp. nov.

– Median margin of female genital sclerotization on sternite 9 strongly concave, arched ( Figs 11a–d, f View Fig , 12a–f View Fig ) ............................................................................................................................................... 2

2. Length of largest spermatheca>80 μm ............................................................................................ 3

– Length of largest spermatheca <80 μm ............................................................................................ 4

3. Wing length <1.5 mm [eastern North America ( Canada and USA)] ................. C.confusus sp. nov.

– Wing length> 1.5 mm [Pacific Northwest ( Canada and USA)] .......................... C. pacifica sp. nov.

4. Length of largest spermatheca>70 μm ............................................................................................ 5

– Length of largest spermatheca <70 μm ............................................................................................ 6

5. Posterior branch of 9 th sternite tapering, apex acutely pointed ( Fig. 11a View Fig ) [Jalisco ( Mexico)] ............ ..................................................................................................... C.aliciae Huerta & Borkent, 2005 View in CoL

– Posterior branch of 9 th sternite not tapering, apex obtusely rounded ( Fig. 12e View Fig ) [ Colombia] .............. ............................................................................................................................................... C. sp. F2

6. Flagellum ratio (FR) <1.5 ( Fig. 7c View Fig ) [Southwestern United States, Rocky Mountains ( USA), Vancouver Island ( Canada)] ............................................................................... C.borkenti sp. nov.

– Flagellum ratio (FR)>1.5 ( Figs 6a–d View Fig , 7d–e View Fig ) ................................................................................... 7

7. Anterior branch of 9 th sternite tapering from base, acutely spiniform ( Fig. 12f View Fig ) [ Costa Rica] .......... .............................................................................................................................................. C. sp. F3

– Anterior branch of 9 th sternite tapering only in apical half ( Fig. 12c–d View Fig ) ............................................ .......................... C.virginianus View in CoL [eastern North America ( Canada and USA), C. sp. F1 ( Colombia)]