Simulium damnosum, Theobald, 1903

Hendy, Adam, Krit, Meryam, Pfarr, Kenneth, Laemmer, Christine, Witte, Jacobus De, Nwane, Philippe, Kamgno, Joseph, Nana-Djeunga, Hugues C., Boussinesq, Michel, Dujardin, Jean-Claude, Post, Rory, Colebunders, Robert, O’Neill, Sarah, Enyong, Peter & Njamnshi, Alfred K., 2021, ONCHOCERCA VOLVULUS transmission in the Mbam valley of Cameroon following 16 years of annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin, and the description of a new cytotype of SIMULIUM SQUAMOSUM, Parasites & Vectors (563) 14 (1), pp. 1-14 : 4

Identification of S. damnosum complex

Larvae of the S. damnosum complex were morphologically identified by the presence of dorsal abdominal tubercles and scales on the prothoracic proleg [ 30]. Lateinstar larvae were used for cytotaxonomy. Prior to chromosome preparation, the head and thorax of each larva was separated from the remainder of the specimen and stored individually in absolute ethanol for morphological identification. Salivary glands were then dissected from the abdominal cavity of each respective specimen and were prepared following a Feulgen staining method outlined by Adler et al. [ 31]. Larvae were identified with reference to the cytotaxonomic key in Post et al. [15], and chromosome maps in Vajime and Dunbar [ 9], Boakye [ 32], and Mustapha et al. [ 10]. Inversion nomenclature follows Post et al. [ 33]. Adult black flies were identified by their enlarged fore-tarsi bearing crests of dark hair and the presence of white bands on the hind basi-tarsi [ 34].