Culicoides novamexicanus Atchley, 1012

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 : 104

Culicoides novamexicanus Atchley

Culicoides (Oecacta) novamexicanus Atchley, 1967: 1012 (key; numerical characters; female; male genitalia; fig. female wing, palpus, tibial comb, spermathecae, male genitalia, parameres; New Mexico). Wirth and Rowley 1971: 161 (numerical characters; key; female, male; fig. female antenna, palpus, eye separation, spermathecae, male genitalia, parameres). Wirth et al. 1985: 26 (numerical characters; fig. female wing).

Diagnosis. ( Tables 14, 15) Wing pattern distinct and extensive; r 2 dark; prominent distal pale spots in r 3, m 1, m 2 (as in Fig. 144, 223 C. calexicanus ); spermathecae subequal, with sclerotized necks shorter than wide (as in Fig. 275 C. calexicanus ); ventral apodeme of gonocoxite simple; basal portion of gonostylus abruptly bent ~90°, L-shaped (as in Fig. 92 C . palmerae); aedeagus V-shaped, median process tapering to tip ~0.2 as wide as basal arm spread (as in Fig. 90 C . calexicanus); parameres separate, apices abruptly bent ventro-laterally with simple sharp tip.

Distribution. The only report of this species is of five specimens collected by W. R. Atchley on 14 June 1965 (week 24) from Chavez County on the High Plains of southeastern New Mexico.

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

Remarks. No C. novamexicanus were examined. See C. palmerae remarks.

Figures

Figures 88–93. Male genitalia of Culicoides, ventral view. 88) C. luglani, submedian processes of parameres circled. 89) C. crepuscularis, ventral apodeme of gonocoxite circled. 90) C. calexicanus, apices of parameres circled, apex of aedeagus delineated. 91) C. hawsi (paratype, Modoc County, CA [FSCA]). 92) C. palmerae, sharp lateral shoulders on median process of aedeagus indicated (A). 93) C. utahensis.