A New Species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Honduras)

Abstract

FEMALE :-Head: Eyes narrowly separated, bare. Antennae (Fig. 7) with flagellar segments in proportion of 20:15:15:15:15:185:15:16:33:33:36: 36:48. Antennal ratio 1.48 (1.44-1.53, n==4); distal sensorial pits in segments III-XV. The first eight flagellar segments yellowish, the last five brown. Palpal segments (Fig. 5) in proportion of 15:31:45:12:12; the third segment swollen, 2.48 (2.44-2.53, n=4) times as long as the greatest width; with a large deep sensory pit with a circular opening. The proboscis shorter than the head; the mandible with 15 (14-18, n-4) well developed teeth. Thorax: On slide mounted specimens the thorax appears to be uniformly yellowish brown; however, no pinned material was available for comparison. The legs are light brown; the femora with a subapical, and the tibia with a subbasal pale ring; all knees black. Hind tibial comb with four spines, (Fig. 6) the one nearest the spur the longest. Wing: Length of wing 1.36 (1.34-1.42, n-4) mm; the costa extending 0.58 (0.57-0.60, n=4) of the wing length. Wing pattern (Fig. 8) with markings distinct; the pale markings well separated. The second radial cell in a light spot, the distal pale spot broadly reaching the wing margin and nearly filling the apical portion of cell R5. A large round pale spot on vein M<; the distal pale spots in cells Ml and M2 broadly reaching the wing margin. The anal cell with one distal pale spot which fills the entire distal portion of the cell. Few macrotrichia present, these distributed evenly over the surface of the wing. The halter entirely clear. Abdomen: Two spherical spermathecae present; the ducts sclerotized for only a very short distance. The larger 0.079 (0.067-0.098, n=2) mm by 0.058 (0.055-0.060, n=2) mm; the smaller 0.065 (0.060-0.072, n=3) mm by 0.053 (0.048-0.055, n-3) mm. MALE:-Genitalia: The ninth sternite shallowly excavated; ninth tergite with apicolateral processes well developed, slightly divergent and with blunt ends; the caudal margin strongly indented and with a deep troughshaped notch. Basistyle with dorsal root well developed, blunt ended; the ventral root longer and tapering to a weakly curved point. Dististyle with the base swollen; nearly straight, with a slender, blunt, slightly curved tip. Aedeagus strongly arched; with ends of arms bent; tapering to a blunt tip. Parameres (Fig. 2) separate, with abruptly bent, knobbed bases and a sensible swelling medially, tapering to fine sharply bent simple tips.