New Species and Records of Predaceous Midges of the Genus Probezzia from Florida and Alabama (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract

Three new species of Probezzia Kieffer are described from one locality, Florida Caverns State Park in Jackson County, Florida: fairchildi New Species, meadi New Species, and weemsi New Species. A fourth species, glicki New Species, is described from two localities in Alabama. Florida distribution records are presented for five additional previously described species. The midges from Blackshear, Georgia, previously reported as Probezzia nigra Wirth, were misidentified, and are now reported as Macropeza blantoni Wirth and Ratanaworabhan (New Georgia State Record). A new key is provided to the 23 known North American species of Probezzia, as well as diagrammatic illustrations of the color patterns of femora and tibiae of females. Se describen tres especies nuevas de Probezzia Keiffer de una localidad, el Parque Estatal Cavernas Floridanas en el condado de Jackson, Florida:fairchildi Especie Nueva, meadi, Expecie Nueva, y weemsi Especie Nueva. Una cuarta especie, glicki Especie Nueva, se describe de dos localidades en Alabama. Registros de distribucion para la Florida se presentan para cinco especies previamente descritas. Las mosquitas de Blackshear, Georgia, previamente reportadas como Probezzia nigra Wirth, fueron el identificadas erroneamente, y ahora se reportan como Macropeza blantoni Wirth y Ratanaworabhan (Nuevo Registro para Georgia). Se presenta una nueva clave para las 23 especies norteamericanas conocidas de Probezzia, ademas unas ilustraciones de las configuraciones de colores de los femures y las tibias de las hembras. The large, conspicuously marked, predaceous midges of the genus Probezzia Kieffer are common and characteristic inhabitants of the psammolittoral zone of the lakes and larger streams of the northern United States, southern Canada, and Eurasia. They have not been found south of northern Florida, Texas, and northern California. Williams (1955) and Wirth (1971) reported on the habits of the larvae and pupae. Mature larvae migrate from their shallow water habitat up the stems and leaves of cat-tails and other emergent plants where pupation occurs within a few inches of the water surface. Pupae secure themselves to the plants by means of secretory adhesive discs on some of the abdominal sternites. When disturbed, the pupae are able to move forward by wriggling movements and, using these discs, as well as the strong segmental spines on the abdomen, secure themselves. Downes (1978) reported in detail the feeding habits of Probezzia females. The females are predaceous on small, soft-bodied insects (wing length 2-7 mm) such as mayflies and chironomid midges. Most remarkably, females of Probezzia will feed on the males of