First records of species of the Spissipes Section (Culex (Melanoconion)) (Diptera, Culicidae) in Guainía Department, Colombia

Abstract

The Spissipes section of the subgenus Melanoconion Theobald, 1903 of Culex Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera, Culicidae) consists of 23 species, many of which transmit various subtypes of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Members of the Spissipes section are distributed throughout the American tropics, and most species are associated with mesic sylvatic environments. Here are reported two first records of Spissipes section females from Guainía Department, Colombia. Females of Culex gnomatos Sallum et al., 1997 and Culex portesi Senevet & Abonnenc, 1941, were observed biting the author and photographed in situ.