Batoense Species-group Research Articles

Redescription of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) omutaense Ogata & Sasa (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Japan and its phylogenetic relationship with other members of the S. batoense species-group

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) omutaense Ogata & Sasa, 1954 is the only named species in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein recorded from Honshu and Kyushu, Japan. It represents the northernmost distribution of this species-group, of which most members are distributed in the Oriental region. This species, the only member of the Simulium omutaense subgroup, is unique among the seven subgroups of the S. batoense species-group by having the pupal gill with one long filament and seven short filaments, similar to the arrangement of the pupal gill filaments in the S. zonatum subgroup of the S. epistum species-group in the same subgenus. This species is fully redescribed based on adults, pupal exuviae and mature larvae, and is most similar to species of the S. decuplum subgroup, based on adult morphological characteristics, although the pupal gill of the latter subgroup is markedly different by having 10 or 12 short filaments. Its close relationship to the S. decuplum subgroup is supported by a DNA analysis using COI gene sequences, with genetic distances of 9.30–11.02%. On the other hand, genetic distances between S. (G.) omutaense and species of the S. zonatum subgroup were 16.32–16.93%. Our study shows that a similar arrangement of the pupal gills in two different species-groups, which is rarely seen, has evolved independently and its occurrence does not necessarily reflect phylogenetic relationships.

Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India

Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dinakarani sp. nov. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) krishnani sp. nov. are described based on reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from the Western Ghats of India. These two new species are placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. The morphological characters of two new species are compared with other related species of batoense species-group in India. The COI gene has successfully differentiated these two new species from its allies, S. (G.) panagudiense and S. (G.) takaokai of the batoense species group and the phylogenetic analysis by using COI gene sequences supporting its morphological classification.

A new black fly species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) br />from Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) marosense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Sulawesi, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium duolongum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group, representing the ninth member for the subgroup in Sulawesi. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are 1.9-3.0 times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.

A new black fly species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia (Simulium: Simuliidae: Diptera) from India

Abstract Simulium (Gomphostilbia) agasthyamalaiense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from a medium-flowing stream of Southern Western Ghats, India. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. This new species is characterized in the female by a scutum with three brownish-black longitudinal vittae and the hind basitarsus 5.7 times as long as wide; in the female by the large facets of upper eye with 20 vertical columns and 19 horizontal rows; in the pupa the respiratory gill with medium-long common basal stalk; and in the larva arrowhead-shaped postgenal cleft. Taxonomic notes are provided for this new species and it can be distinguished from closely related species of S. (G.) peteri. Keys are constructed to distinguish this species from ten species of the batoense species-group recorded in India. www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:1D1CFEE5-A762-4F68-9EAE-9E31133146C0

A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae)from South India.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) kumbakkaraiense sp. n. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Kumbakkarai stream, in the Palani Hills of Western Ghats, South India. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. This new species is characterized by a scutum with three brownish-black longitudinal vittae and hind basitarsus in the female 5.3 times as long as wide, and in male the large facets of the upper eye in 13 vertical columns and 14 horizontal rows, the respiratory gill with short common basal in the pupa and postgenal cleft arrow-head-shaped in the larva. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species. [Zoobank register: http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C575FB25-B6B2-414B-AE11-0468A1871DFA].

Five new species of the Simulium decuplum subgroup of the Simulium (Gomphostilbia) batoense species-group (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand and their phylogenetic relationships

Five new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) chiangraiense, S. (G.) huaikaeoense, S. (G.) khaokhoense, S. (G.) maeklangense, and S. (G.) pamiangense, are described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Thailand. These five species are similar to one another and are placed in the S. decuplum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group by having the male fore coxae darkened, ventral plate flat and transverse; pupal gill with 10 short filaments; and larval postgenal cleft deep approaching or reaching the posterior margin of the hypostoma. Simulium (G.) chiangraiense sp. nov. and S. (G.) pamiangense sp. nov. differ from the three other new species by the much longer pupal gill filaments and darkened dorsal surface of abdominal segments 1 and 2. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish these five new species from five other related species. The phylogenetic positions of these new species in the S. decuplum subgroup are presented based on the mitochondrial COI gene. Simulium (G.) pamiangense sp. nov. and S. (G.) huaikaeoense sp. nov. are highly similar to each other genetically, showing a sister relationship, though they are clearly different morphologically. On the contrary, S. (G.) khaokhoense sp. nov. is distantly positioned from S. (G.) huaikaeoense nov., though it is almost indistinguishable morphologically from the latter.

A New Black Fly Species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Laos.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) laosense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae, and mature larvae from Laos. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein. It is characterized by the pupal gill with eight filaments arranged as 3 + 3 + 2 from dorsal to ventral, of which an inner filament of the ventral pair is slightly longer than its counter filament, and is 1.7-1.8 times as long as filaments of the middle triplet. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from Simulium (G.) johorense Takaoka, Sofian-Azirun & Ya'cob from Peninsular Malaysia and four other related species. The phylogenetic position of this new species in the S. batoense species-group is also presented based on the mitochondrial COI gene. This new species represents the second species known from Laos.

A New Black Fly Species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Thailand.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) fukudae sp. nov. is described based on females, males, pupae, and larvae from Thailand. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of Simulium (Gomphostilbia). It is characterized by the female frons almost bare, male paramere covered with minute setae, pupal gill composed of six slender filaments, pupal terminal hooks cone-shaped, and cocoon with an anterodorsal projection. Taxonomic notes are given to separate this new species from the most similar species, Simulium (G.) sextuplum Takaoka & Davies and Simulium (G.) paukatense Takaoka, both from Malaysia.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lemborense, a new black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Flores, Indonesia.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lemborense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Flores, in the eastern part of the Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium batoense species-group of the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein, representing the most eastern distribution record for the group. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are three to four times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.

A new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from South India, with keys to Indian members of the subgenus Gomphostilbia.

A new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) cauveryense sp. n., is described based on adult female, adult male, pupal and larval specimens collected from Kushalanagar, Karnataka, South India. This new species is placed in the decuplum subgroup of the batoense species-group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Keys to the species of the subgenus Gomphostilbia reported from India are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Southern Western Ghats, India: Two new species and DNA barcoding

Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Southern Western Ghats India. The morphological data of two new species S. (Gomphostilbia) panagudiense sp. n. and S. (Gomphostilbia) kottoorense sp. n. are assigned to the batoense species group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia. S. (Gomphostilbia) panagudiense sp.n. is characterized in the female by having the scutum without longitudinal vitta and arms of the genital fork wide basally and in the pupa by the stalk of ventral pair medium-long. S. (Gomphostilbia) kottoorense sp.n. is characterized by the arm of genital fork tapered near apex in the female and style in medial view 0.63 times as long as coxite in the male. Phylogeny of members in the genus Simulium was reconstructed based on DNA barcoding gene (cytochrome oxidase c subunit I). Tree analysis using new technology and maximum likelihood analyses are congruent with evidence of two new species in the subgenus Gomphostilbia and separated from other species.

Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Peninsular India with keys to Peninsular Indian members of the genus Simulium.

Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) peteri sp. nov. and S. (G.) takaokai sp. nov., are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Peninsular India. These two new species are placed in the batoense species group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. S. (G.) peteri sp. nov. is distinguished in the female by having a medium-sized round opening of the sensory vesicle and a large basal tooth on the claw, in the male by 12 vertical columns in the upper eye large facets, in the pupa by a ventral pair of 2 gill filaments somewhat thicker than the other filaments and in the larva by 5 hypostomal bristles per side lying parallel to the lateral margin. S. (G.) takaokai sp. nov. is characterized in the pupa by having the eight gill filaments with a medium-long common basal stalk and in the larva by the labral fan with 38 main rays and 4 hypostomal bristles on each side. Keys to 13 black fly species reported from Peninsular India are provided for females, males and pupae.

Two new species of the Simulium batoense species-group of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Peninsular Malaysia.

Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) tekamense and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) jerantutense, are described based on adult females emerged from pupae in Peninsular Malaysia, and assigned to the binuanense subgroup of the batoense species-group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Simulium (G.) tekamense sp. nov. is characterized in the female by the subcosta with 0-2 hairs, and presence of a deep notch on the apex of the mediolongitudinal ridge of the cibarium, and in the pupa by one of two paired gill filaments of the middle triplet much thicker than the counter filament. Simulium (G.) jerantutense sp. nov. is characterized in the female by the short claw tooth 0.46 times the length of the claw, and in the pupa by the gill filaments arranged as [2+1+(1+2)]+2 filaments from dorsal to ventral. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish these new species from related species.

Two New Species of <I>Simulium</I> (<I>Gomphostilbia</I>) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Peninsular Malaysia, With Keys to 10 Peninsular Malaysian Species of the <I>Simulium batoense</I> Species Group

Two new blackfly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) azhari and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) johorense, are described based on adult females, males, pupae, and larvae collected from Peninsular Malaysia, and assigned to the parahiyangum subgroup and the duolongum subgroup of the batoense species group of the subgenus Comphostilbia, respectively. S. (G.) azhari sp. nov. is characterized in the female by the narrow frons, and in the male by the broad style and the ventral plate moderately produced ventrally. S. (G.) johorense sp. nov. is also remarkable in having the female subcosta lacking hairs or bearing a reduced number of hairs ranging from one to five. The pupae of both new species share a similar arrangement of the eight gill filaments (i.e., stalks of dorsal and middle triplets and ventral pair arising at the same level from the short common basal stalk), although relative lengths of filaments of the ventral pair to those of the dorsal and middle triplets are different between the two new species. Taxonomic notes are given to distinguish these new species from other related species. Keys to identify all 10 species of the batoense species group in Peninsular Malaysia are provided for adult females, males, pupae, and mature larvae.

Geographical versus ecological isolation of closely related black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) inferred from phylogeny, geography, and ecology

To investigate patterns of geographical and ecological separation among morphologically similar, closely related species of black flies, we integrated ecological, geographical, and phylogenetic information, based on multiple gene sequences, for 12 species in the subgenus Gomphostilbia in Thailand. Molecular characters supported the monophyly of the Simulium ceylonicum species group, but not of the Simulium batoense species group, suggesting that revisionary work is needed for the latter. Both ecological and geographical isolation of similar taxa were revealed. Stream velocity and altitude were among the principal ecological factors differing between closely related species. Most closely related species in the subgenus Gomphostilbia overlap geographically, suggesting the possibility of sympatric speciation driven by ecological divergence. Geographical isolation via dispersal also might have contributed to species divergence, while Pleistocene climate changes possibly influenced population genetic structure, demographic history, and speciation of some members of the subgenus.

Phylogenetic relationships among the black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand based on multiple gene sequences

Simulium is a very speciose genus of the black fly family Simuliidae that includes many important pests of humans and animals. Cytotaxonomic and morphological studies have made substantial progress in Simulium systematics. 16S rRNA and ITS-1 DNA sequence studies have assisted this progress. Intensive multi-gene molecular systematic investigations will, however, be required for a comprehensive understanding of the genus' taxonomy and evolution. Our research was conducted to investigate the relationships of Thai Simulium at the subgeneric, species group and species levels. We also examined the possibility of using mitochondrial DNA sequences to facilitate Simulium species identification. Data were collected from three mitochondrial genes (COI, ND4 and 16S rRNA) and two segments of the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (the D1 to D2 and the D4 expansion regions). The subgenera Simulium and Gomphostilbia were monophyletic in most analyses. Nevermannia included Montisimulium but was otherwise monophyletic in multigene analyses. In most analyses, Simulium and Nevermannia were more closely related to each other than to Gomphostilbia which was usually basal. Species groups were generally monophyletic. Within Gomphostilbia, however, the batoense species group was always paraphyletic to the other two species groups found in Thailand. Three species groups in Simulium were not monophyletic. The tendency to gill filament number reduction for some species groups in the subgenus Simulium was associated with a derived position in multigene analyses. Most species were monophyletic with two exceptions that probably represent species complexes and will present difficulties for rapid mitochondrial DNA identification.

Two New Species of <I>Simulium</I> (<I>Gomphostilbia</I>) (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Peninsular Malaysia

Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Comphostilbia) terengganuense sp. nov. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) aziruni sp. nov. (Diptera: Simuliidae), are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal, and larval specimens collected from Peninsular Malaysia. Both species are placed in the batoense species-group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia, one of two dominant subgenera of the genus Simulium in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in the Oriental Region. Strikingly, three morphological characteristics that rarely occur in the subgenus Gomphostilbia are found in these two new species: the very narrow female frons and the mushroom-like pupal terminal hooks in S. (G.) terengganuense sp. nov. and the pupal gill composed of an inflated horn-like structure and eight slender filaments in S. (G.) aziruni sp. nov.