Culicoides

Phillips, Robert A., 2022, Culicoides Latreille and Leptoconops Skuse biting midges of the southwestern United States with emphasis on the Canyonlands of southeastern Utah (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Insecta Mundi 2022 (907), pp. 1-214 : 117

Culicoides unplaced species F

(Fig. 226, 284)

Diagnosis. ( Tables 14, 15) Dark brown; r 2 dark; wing pattern relatively faint; pale spots over bases of m 2 and anal cells, on r-m crossvein extending from costa into m 2 above CuA fork, at tip of costa in r 3, on midportions of M 1 and M 2, distally in anal cell, faint in cua 1, faint distally in m 1 and m 2, barely discernable distally in r 3; flagellomeres 9–10 normal, each larger than 8; SCo pattern 1, 3, 5, 7, (8), 9, 11–13; labrum without apical median projection; scutellum with 12 setae; fore and hind tarsomeres with apical spines; two ovoid spermathecae unequal by ~1.4, sclerotized necks <0.5 as long as wide; sclerotized ring on spermathecal duct. Male unknown.

Distribution. Idaho (Bonneville County). One female was collected with UVLT on 14 July 2019 at 43.52974°N 111.18504°W and 2002 m elevation in the Snake River Range, Idaho.

Adult behavior. The mandibular and lacinial teeth indicate it feeds on vertebrate blood; however, its hosts are unknown.

Remarks. This species shares characteristics with C. chewaclae and species A of the Piliferus group and C. hawsi of the Palmerae group. It is similar to species of the Piliferus group in having pale spots straddling veins M 1 and M 2, no bilobed distal pale spot in r 3, a broadly open palpal sensory pit, and very unequal spermathecae. It seems close to C. chewaclae in having an extremely short proboscis and a similar SCo pattern but differs by being larger and having a larger antennal ratio. It shares with C. hawsi apical spines on the fore and hind tarsomeres, a similar SCo pattern, a broadly open palpal sensory pit, and very unequal spermathecae; however, it differs from C. hawsi by having a more extensive wing pattern with pale spots on M 1 and M 2, a shorter proboscis, no SCo on flagellomere 10, and narrower eye separation. If the species F specimen is not an aberration, the male should be easy to associate by having apical spines on the fore and hind tarsomeres and pale spots straddling the midportions of M 1 and M 2 —a combination unique among the known Culicoides of the southwestern United States.