Simulium (Hearlea) estevezi Vargas

Coscarón, S., Esquivel, D. R. Miranda, Moulton, J. K., Arias, C. L. Coscarón- & Bernal, S. Ibañez, 2004, Simulium (Hearlea) Vargas, Martínez Palacios, & Díaz Nájera (Diptera: Simuliidae): Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis, Zootaxa 396, pp. 1-52 : 20-21

Simulium (Hearlea) estevezi Vargas

Figs. 5G–I

Simulium (Hearlea) estevezi Vargas, 1945: 71 , pl 7. Figs 2 , 5 , pl. 8 Fig. 3 , pl. 9 Fig. 1 ; Vargas & Díaz Nájera, 1948: 341, Figs. 57–59; 1957: 262, 296, Figs. 125–133; Díaz Nájera & Vulcano, 1962: 92, Figs. 62–66.

(Diagnosis of adults derived from Vargas, 1945 and Vargas & Díaz Nájera, 1957).

Female: Wing length, 2.5 mm. Scutum blackish, with 1+1 silvery vittae adjoined with anterior subtriangular silvery spots. Cibarium without ovoid sublateral prominences. Genitalia similar to those of S. capricorne .

Male: Wing length, 2.7 mm. Genitalia as in S. capricorne . Ventral plate with haired median carina.

Pupa: ( Figs. 5 G–I ). Length (basal), 3.6 mm; (dorsal), 2.8 mm. Cocoon shoe shaped, neatly woven (no threads evident), with anterior margin weakly reinforced. Frontoclypeus and anterodorsum of thorax with abundant platelets and granules, respectively. Gill with 3 accuminate, pseudoannulated branches; medial branch largest, subcylindrical, directed anteroventrally, with median internally directed protuberance, and sharply upturned accuminate apex; ventral branch laterally flattened, curved ventromedially; dorsal branch 1/3 or less length of other branches, directed posteromedially ( Figs. 5 G–I ).

Larva: Length, 8 mm. General coloration grayish. Cephalic apotome uniformly yellowish colored, or with slightly darkened spots forming a cross. Antenna extended beyond apex of labral fan stalk. Ratio of articles = 1:1.3–1.4:1.1–1.2 (proximal: medial: distal); medial article appearing as 3 pseudosegments. Mandible with two rows of 7 internal teeth and 2 internal teeth, the anterior internal tooth one larger than posterior one. Labral fan with 44–50 primary rays. Postgenal cleft gradually narrowed apically, with small anteromedian incision. Hypostoma with anterior margin straight. Ratio of hypostoma/hypostomal bridge = 0.9. Hypostoma with 8 lateral setae per side and 2+2 discal setae. Lateral plate of prothoracic proleg sclerite with ca. 40 teeth. Posterior circlet with 98–104 rows of 18–19 hooks. Rectal papillae trilobed, with 8–10 lobules per lobe (24–30 total).

Material examined: México: Veracruz, Tequiza , 1 larva (on slide) and 4 larvae, 5 August 1948, Reyes & Cordova ( MLP) ; Oaxaca, San Felipe del Agua , 3 pupae, 1 pupa (in slide), 6 January 1955, Bautista ( MLP) ; no locality 1 pupa, 14 December 1943, Martinez ( USNM) .

Distribution: México: Chiapas, Distrito Federal, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Discussion: Superficially, the female of S. estevezi is very similar to those of S. ayrozai , S. dalmati and S. ethelae . The pupa of these latter species, however, is quite distinct. The pupa of S. estevezi is closest to that of S. delatorrei , but has a thicker, more apically blunt medial gill branch having a smaller medioventral process and a more anterodorsally directed cocoon. The larva of S. estevezi is closest to S. delatorrei , but the latter species has a posterior circlet with 114 rows of hooks (versus 98–104), rectal papillae with 24–25 lobules per lobe (versus 8–10), and a significantly shorter postgenal cleft.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Female. A–C. S. (H.) capricorne. A. front; B. fronto­ocular triangle; C. hind basitarsus. D. S. (H.) gorirossiae claw. E. S. (H.) larvispinosum claw. F–G. S. (H.) juarezi, scutum with varying lighting. H–I. S. (H.) microbranchium, scutum with varying lighting. Figures A and C, D and E, and F–I, with same respective scaling.

FIGURE 2. Female. A–E. S. (H.) capricorne, A. basal portion of cibarium, B. basal article of palpus and sensorial organ; C. VIII sternite and gonapophysis; D. paraproct and cercus; E. genital fork. F. S. (H.) delatorrei, basal portion of cibarium. G–I. S. (H.) larvispinosum, G. basal portion of cibarium, H. genital fork, I. spermatheca. (A, C, E, H, I) and (B, F) same scale respectively.

FIGURE 3. A–G Male. A. S. (H.) juarezi, scutum. B. S. (H.) capricorne hind basitarsus; C–E. S. (H.) delatorrei, C. basistylus and dististylus, D. ventral plate, E. endoparameres and median sclerite. F–G. S. (H.) larvispinosum F. basistylus and dististylus, G. ventral plate. H–I. pupa, frontoclypeus of S. (H.) capricorne and S. (H.) delatorrei respectively. (C, H) and (D, E) same scale respectively.

FIGURE 5. Pupa and respiratory organ. A, B. S. (H.) burchi; A. lateral view, B. dorsal view. C–F. S. (H.) delatorrei; D. in laterodorsal view; E. dorsal view, F. laterointernal view. G–I. S. (H.) estevezi, H. dorsal view, I. ventral view. J–M. S. (H.) dalmati, J. lateral view, K. dorsal view, L. frontal view. M. ventral view. N–O. S. (H.) juarezi, N. lateral view, O. dorsal view. (A, B–E, G–O same scale).