Simulium (Wilhelmia) equinum (Linnaeus)

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 : 935-936

24. Simulium (Wilhelmia) equinum (Linnaeus)

Spain references: Grenier and Bertrand (1954: 452), Beaucournu-Saguez (1975a), GonzaÂlez PenÄa (1990), GonzaÂlez (1997).

Andalusia records

Authors’ material. Site 32: 63 pupae, 72 larvae. Site 34: 2 pupae, 2 larvae. Site 45: 2m (1), 17 pupae, 3 larvae. Site 98: 1 (l1), 12 pupae, 6 larvae. Site 102: 2 pupae, 3 larvae. Site 114: 1 pupa. Site 115: 1 pupa (exuviae remnant). Site 127: 2 pupae, 2 larvae.

Previous reports. Granada: Pinos-Genil, RõÂo Genil on road to Picacho de Veleta and at El Blanqueo, and cement channel at El Blanqueo [VG51] (ref. Beaucournu- Saguez, 1975a).

Remarks

This widespread European species becomes progressively less common towards the south, is fairly rare in Andalusia, just penetrates into northern Morocco (but not elsewhere in the Maghreb) and is absent from all Mediterranean islands. It is a riverine species that always seems to occur in Andalusia mixed with other species of the subgenus Wilhelmia . Pupae from southern Spain are typical in all respects, immediately identi®able by the banana-like gill branches (®gure 48), but non-reared females cannot be distinguished from those of the much commoner and typically sympatric S. pseudequinum even on the basis of the spermatheca; for a further note on the spermatheca see the remarks under S. (W.) sergenti .