Culicoides (Silvicola)

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 : 97

Culicoides (Silvicola) species E

(Fig. 186)

Diagnosis. ( Tables 14, 15) Wing pattern extensive, with distal stripes and pale spots; pale spot over at least distal half of r 2; cua 1 without central dark spot; eyes contiguous for 1 ommatidium diameter; superior transverse suture present; palpal segment 3 with distinct wide shallow sensory pit, scattered sensilla lacking; scutum without evident pattern; scutellum with 14 setae; tibiae without pale bands; fore and hind tarsomeres with apical spines; three developed spermathecae, unequal; male unknown.

Distribution. A single female was collected with a CO 2 -baited trap on 22 April 2003 in northwest Moab at 38.58296°N 109.56663°W and 1214 m elevation in Grand County, Utah.

Adult behavior. The mandibular and lacinial teeth and collection in a CO 2 -baited trap indicate it feeds on vertebrate blood; however, its hosts are unknown.

Remarks. Were it not for the apical fore and hind tarsal spines, which are not present on any C. lahontan examined (including another specimen with three developed spermathecae), the specimen would be identified as an aberrant C. lahontan . This suggests it may be another species not matching others in North America; however, the third spermatheca suggests the possibility that the tarsomere spines are also abnormally developed and it is not a new species. See subgenus Silvicola discussion.

Subgenus Wirthomyia Vargas