Simulium (Simulium) variegatum Meigen

Crosskey, R. W., 2002, A taxonomic account of the black y fauna of Iraq and Iran, including keys for species identi cation (Diptera: Simuliidae), Journal of Natural History 36 (15), pp. 1841-1886 : 1872

13. Simulium (Simulium) variegatum Meigen

Iran references. No previous reference, new record.

Iraq references. None.

Material seen

Iran: 2 (11), 1 (1), 13 pupae, 17 larvae, Elburz Mountains, stream at Towchal , 23 km N of Tehran (35ss50¾/51ss25¾), 29 September 1978 (Kurtak and Kurtak) .

Remarks

Simulium (S.) variegatum is widespread from western Europe and Maghreb North Africa to the Transcaucasus but exhibits some variation over this range, especially at the eastern end. The existence of sibling species is possible and populations in Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan might not be conspeci c with those of western Europe. All, however, show the pair of curious ‘thoracic bosses’ (gure 44, arrowed) on the pupal dorsum near the gill bases that are a diagnostic character of the species as currently recognized. Rubtsov (1956, in Odagmia) described two varieties, vernalis and autumnalis, both from Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the purported diVerences from typical variegatum are intangible and I agree with Terteryan (1968) and Yankovsky (1995) that morphologically at least these varieties should be treated as synonymous with variegatum . It is noteworthy, however, that the adult males seen from Iran have paler appendages than usual, the femora and tibiae being entirely yellow and the antennae reddish yellow instead of mainly dark. In Iran, as elsewhere, the pupal cocoon is rather loosely perforate (gure 53).

The species has not been found yet in the northern mountains of Iraq but almost certainly occurs there.