Van Der Wulp Research Articles

New species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini) from Brazil

Five new species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini) from Brazil are described and illustrated. T. longitubuli sp. n. and T. pseudocurvicristatus sp. n., are described as larva, pupa and male; T. hirsutus sp. n., as male and pupa, and T. corumba sp. n. and T. jatai sp. n. as males. Except for one species from Pantanal (western central Brazil), most species were collected in southeast Brazil, from lowland streams and lakes. New occurrences of known species of Tanytarsus in Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso states, are also given.

Systematics of theAnopheles barbirostrisspecies complex (Diptera: Culicidae: Anophelinae) in Thailand

This study deals with five species of the Barbirostris Complex of Anopheles subgenus Anopheles that are known to occur in Thailand. Three new species of the complex, Anopheles dissidens sp. nov., Anopheles saeungae sp. nov., and Anopheles wejchoochotei sp. nov., are characterized and compared with Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp and Anopheles campestris Reid based on specimens of molecularly identified progeny broods. For practical purposes, the five species are essentially isomorphic and can only be unequivocally identified from diagnostic mitochondrial and ribosomal DNA sequences. Based on overall morphological similarity, An. campestris is considered to be a member of the Barbirostris Complex rather than a separate member of the Barbirostris Subgroup. The molecular data, mitotic karyotypes, bionomics, and distributions of the species are reviewed and discussed. It is concluded that integrated molecular epidemiological studies of the complex throughout the Oriental Region are needed to unambiguously elucidate the individual species and their relation to disease. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London

Parachironomus lenz from china and Japan (Diptera, chironomidae).

Members of the genus Parachironomus Lenz known from China and Japan are revised, and a key to their male adults is given. Parachironomus poyangensis sp. n. is described in this life stage. Parachironomus frequens (Johannsen) and Parachironomus monochromus (van der Wulp) are recorded from China for the first time, thus are redescribed from Chinese specimens. Parachironomus kamaabeus Sasa & Tanaka and Parachironomus toneabeus Sasa & Tanaka are new junior synonyms of Parachironomus frequens. Three Chinese or Japanese species formerly placed in Parachironomus are transferred to other genera, resulting in the new combinations Cryptochironomus inafegeus (Sasa, Kitami & Suzuki), Demicryptochironomus (Irmakia) lobus (Yan, Sæther, Jin & Wang), and Microchironomus lacteipennis (Kieffer). Chironomus sauteri Kieffer, Parachironomus kisobilobalis Sasa & Kondo and Parachironomus kuramaexpandus Sasa are removed from Parachironomus; the last of these three denotes a valid species of uncertain generic placement, the first two are nomina dubia.

The evolutionary history of two species of Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Lake Baikal (Eastern Siberia)

The evolutionary history of two species belonging to the genus Orthocladius van der Wulp, 1874 (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Lake Baikal was investigated using the mitochondrial gene coding the first subunit of the cytochrome c oxidase (CO1 mtDNA). The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Baikal Orthocladius species were divided into two well-defined clades where O. (Orthocladius) gregarius Linevitsh, 1970 was a sister species to Palaearctic O. (Orthocladius) nitidoscutellatus Lundstrom, 1915 and the O. (Eudactylocladius) sp. was a sister species to Nearctic O. (Eudactylocladius) subletteorum Cranston, 1998. Divergence time estimates indicated that these species had been evolving independently for about 18 Ma (Neogene, Early Miocene), while emergence of the most recent common ancestors of the modern O. (Orthocladius) gregarius and O. (Eudactylocladius) sp. was dated to about 3.5 Ma (Neogene, Pliocene). The evolution of Baikal orthoclads occurred from the rheophilic fauna under conditions of global climate change during the geological history of the Baikal Depression in the Tertiary Period.

New species and records of Metriocnemus van der Wulp s. str. from China (Diptera, Chironomidae)

The Chinese species of Metriocnemus van der Wulp s. str., 1874 is reviewed. M. (M.) calcaneum sp. n. is described and illustrated as adult male. M. (M.) albolineatus (Meigen) is recorded from China for the first time. M. (M.) beringensis (Cranston & Oliver), M. (M.) bilobatus Makarchenko & Makarchenko, M. (M.) caudigus Sæther, M. (M.) intergerivus Sæther, M. (M.) tamaokui Sasa and M. (M.) tristellus Edwards are recorded from the Oriental Region for the first time. A key to the males of 17 Chinese Metriocnemus (Metriocnemus) species is given.

Revision of genus <I>Cerais</I> van der Wulp (Diptera: Chloropidae: Chloropinae: Mindini) with description of two new species from India

Received: 23 October 2013. Accepted: 29 November 2013. CHERIAN P.T., GEORGE A. E. 2013. Revision of genus Cerais VAN DERWULP (Diptera: Chloropidae: Chloropinae: Mindini) with description of two new species from India. Acta zool. cracov., 56(2): 1-11. Abstract. Aragara WALKER is placed under the tribe Mindini and Aragara magnicornis (VANDERWULP) is transferred back from Aragara toCerais. Genus Bathyparia LAMB is synonymised with Cerais VAN DER WULP and Cerais ponti and Cerais travancorensis, two new species from India, are described. A key to species of Cerais of the world is also given. This is the first record of the genus from India.

A simple method for slide-mounting chironomid hypopygia in lateral view (and for similar preparations)

From the very beginnings of my work in chironomid taxonomy, I have always found it highly informative, frequently even indispensable, to examine and document structures of three-dimensional complexity, such as the adult male hypopygium, from more than just one angle. For example, in the convoluted case of Parachironomus monochromus (van der Wulp) and P. tenuicaudatus (Malloch), sorting specimens and resolving the conflicts among various usages of these names were aided greatly by studying the hypopygia in lateral view (Spies 2000, e.g. figs. 1-4; for further examples, see Spies et al. 1994).

Systematics and Biology of Metriocnemus clarivirgulus sp. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Darjeeling, India with revised keys to male and female adults of Metriocnemus van der Wulp

Metriocnemus clarivirgulus sp. n. belonging to the eurynotus (= obscuripes = hygropetricus) species group is described as adult male, female, pupa and larva. A possible placement and inclusion of the new species and Metriocnemus puna Donato and Siri in the key to known males and females of Metriocnemus van der Wulp of Saether is proposed. Validity of previous Indian species is discussed. A brief account of biology with reference to larval dwelling, food and feeding, pupal activities, seasonal emergence, sex ratio, swarming, mating and oviposition of the new species is also described. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A contribution to the systematics of Neotropical Tanytarsus van der Wulp: first descriptions from Ecuador (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini).

First specific records of Tanytarsus van der Wulp from the Ecuadorian mainland based on detailed descriptions are presented. Tanytarsus cayambe sp. nov. shows an interesting set of characters known from several Neotropical Tanytarsus as well as from species of the recurvatus group of the northern distribution. Tanytarsus cotopaxi sp. nov. is placed in the riopreto species group; as a result an emended diagnosis for adult males of the group is proposed. The diagnostic description of Tanytarsus curvicristatus Contreras-Lichtenberg is also complemented.

Systematics of Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp and a sibling species of the Barbirostris Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) in eastern Java, Indonesia

This study provides the first integrated morphological and molecular characterization of Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp, the nominotypical member of the Barbirostris Complex of malaria vectors in the Oriental Region, and An. vanderwulpisp.n., a sibling species of the complex found in sympatry with An. barbirostris in the vicinity of its type locality in eastern Java, Indonesia. The adult, larval and pupal stages of An. barbirostris are described and compared with those of An. vanderwulpi. The two species, however, are essentially isomorphic. The genetic identity of An. barbirostris s.s. is based on a diagnostic cytochrome oxidase I gene sequence to ensure stable use of the specific name for the prevalent concept of the species. The genetic identity of the new species is also established. Diagnostic DNA sequences for these species serve as a foundation for further taxonomic studies, and for investigations into their roles in the transmission of malaria and filariasis. The discussion includes a brief review of Anopheles classification and species complexes.

Neoethilla, a new genus for the first record of the Ethillini from the New World (Diptera, Tachinidae, Exoristinae)

New genus Neoethilla gen. n., is described to include two New World nominal species formerly recognized as valid species in Winthemia Robineau-Desvoidy: Exorista ignobilis van der Wulp and Winthemia antennalis Coquillett. Winthemia antennalis is proposed as a junior synonym of Exorista ignobilis syn. n. Neoethilla ignobilis comb. n. is removed from the Winthemiini and placed in the tribe Ethillini (Exoristinae) based on a study of the external features of adults, male terminalia, female reproductive system, and egg morphology. The small tribe Ethillini, not hitherto known from the New World, currently comprises fourteen genera worldwide. The phylogeny and systematics of the Ethillini and their relationships with related tribes are discussed and documented by descriptions and illustrations of relevant character states.

Larval morphology, development and forensic importance ofSynthesiomyia nudiseta(Diptera: Muscidae) in Europe: a rare species or just overlooked?

The muscid Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp, 1883) is a species with forensic importance in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This fly has recently been introduced into southern Europe and, until now, had not been recorded in forensic cases in this region. Here, morphology of all larval instars of S. nudiseta is documented in detail by using a combination of light and scanning electron microscopy. Literature data concerning larval morphology are revised and characters allowing identification from other forensically important Muscidae are listed. The life cycle of this species was studied at four constant temperatures: 15, 20, 25 and 30°C. Total development varied between 46.50±0.97 days at 15°C and 15.39±0.32 days at 30°C. Moreover, we report this species breeding in human corpses, for the first time in Europe, in forensic cases from autopsies at the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Madrid and the Institute of Legal Medicine of Alicante, Spain.

Carrion flies of forensic interest: a study of seasonal community composition and succession in Lisbon, Portugal

Information on Diptera community, seasonality and successional patterns in every geographical region is fundamental for the use of flies as forensic indicators of time of death. In order to obtain these data from the Lisbon area (Portugal), experiments were conducted during the four seasons of the year, using piglet carcasses as animal models. Five stages were recognized during the decomposition process. The stages, besides visually defined, could be separated taking into account the occurrence and abundance of the specific groups of Diptera collected. In general, the bloated stage recorded higher abundance and species-richness values. Seventy-one species were identified, belonging to 39 families, in a total of 20 144 adult Diptera collected. Autumn yielded the highest values of species richness, whereas winter had the lowest. In all seasons of the year, Calliphoridae was the dominant family; Muscidae and Fanniidae were very abundant as well. Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy, Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Lucilia ampullacea Villeneuve, Lucilia caesar (Linnaeus), Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Calliphoridae), Hydrotaea ignava (Harris), Muscina prolapsa (Harris), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp) (Muscidae), Piophila megastigmata McAlpine, Stearibia nigriceps (Meigen) (Piophilidae) and Nemopoda nitidula (Fallén) (Sepsidae) were revealed to be very important members of the Diptera community collected. The necrophagous behaviour, demonstrated by their immatures, using carrion as a food source makes them useful forensic indicator species. Also of relevance is the presence of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius), S. nudiseta and P. megastigmata, foreign species established in the local carrion communities. This study also marks the first record of S. nudiseta in Portugal.

A review of the subgenus Eudactylocladius (Diptera: Chironomidae) from China

The subgenus Eudactylocladius Thienemann of the genus Orthocladius van der Wulp from China is reviewed. Three newspecies, O. (E.) brevis, O. (E.) fengensis and O. (E.) intectus are described and illustrated as adult males, and O. (E.) mus-ester Sæther, 2004, O. (E.) priomixtus Sæther, 2004 and O. (E.) subletteorum Cranston, 1999 are recorded from China for the first time and annotated. A key to the Chinese males of the subgenus is presented.

Three new species of the Homoneura (Homoneura) henanensis species group (Diptera, Lauxaniidae), with a key to Chinese species

The following three species of the nominal subgenus of Homoneura van der Wulp from China are described as new to science:H. (H.) beijingensis sp. nov. H. (H.) caoi sp. nov. and H. (H.) kuankuoshuiensis sp. nov. A key to the species of the H. (H.) henanensis species group from China is presented.

Variation in Number and Formation of Repeat Sequences in the rDNA ITS2 Region of Five Sibling Species in theAnopheles barbirostrisComplex in Thailand

Repeat sequences of approximately 100 base pairs in length were found in the rDNA ITS2 region of Anopheles barbirostris van der Wulp (Diptera: Culicidae) species A1, A2, A3, A4, and An. campestris-like in the An. barbirostris complex. Variation in the number of repeats was observed among the five sibling species. Specifically, 10 repeats were observed in A1, eight in A2, A4, and campestris-like, and three in A3. Based on similarities in the sequences of the repeats, related repeats were classified into nine groups. Although A2, A4, and the campestris-like species had the same number of repeats, the ITS2 region of the three species contained different groups of repeats. Excluding the repeat sequences facilitated good alignment of the ITS2 region in the five sibling species. Phylogenetic analyses of the 95 isolines were compared with results obtained from mitochondrial genes (COI and COII). The results revealed marked differences among the five sibling species, particularly regarding the ITS2 region of A3, which was more distinct from the other four species than COI and COIL Repeat sequences in the ITS2 region of other Anopheles species retrieved from GenBank also were analyzed. New repeat sequences were found in An. beklemishevi Stegnii and Kabanova, An. crucians Wiedemann and An. funestus Giles, suggesting that the occurrence of repeat sequences in the ITS2 region are not rare in anopheline mosquitoes.

Diptera of forensic importance in the Iberian Peninsula: larval identification key

A revision of the species and families of sarcosaprophagous flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, Muscidae, Fanniidae, Drosophilidae, Phoridae, Piophilidae and Stratiomyidae) suitable for forensic purposes in the Iberian Peninsula is presented. Morphological characteristics that allow the accurate identification of third instars of the species present in the Iberian Peninsula are described and presented in the form of a diagnostic key. For larval Calliphoridae, characteristics such as the spines of the body segments were useful for the genus Calliphora whereas features of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were useful for larvae of Lucilia. Identification of three Chrysominae species present in the Iberian Peninsula is included. For larval Sarcophagidae, characters such as the arrangement and shape of spiracular openings, structures of the anal segment and the cephalopharyngeal skeleton were used for the first time. A new record of Sarcophaga cultellata Pandellé, from a human corpse, is also included as well as recent incursions into the European cadaveric entomofauna such as Synthesiomyia nudiseta (van der Wulp) and Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus). This work provides useful new information that could be applied to forensic investigations in the Iberian Peninsula and in southern Europe.

A Revision of Afrotropical Quasimodo Flies (Diptera: Curtonotidae: Schizophora). Part I - the GenusAxinotavan der Wulp, with the Description of Three New Species

Afrotropical species of Axinota van der Wulp, a genus exhibiting extreme curvature of the upper thorax (hunchbacked), are reviewed. This genus currently comprises eight described species, two new species in the Oriental Region and one published record from Madagascar. One new and one previously described species are shown to be widespread in continental sub-Saharan Africa. The two syntypes of Diastata fuscipennis Macquart, 1844, were examined and a lectotype and paralectotype are designated. The species is formally transferred to the genus Axinota (Axinota fuscipennis (Macquart, 1844), comb, n.), and a second, closely-related new species, A. quasimodoi Kirk-Spriggs, sp. n., is described and figured. Together these two species comprise a fuscipennis species-group, being distinct from species of presumed Oriental origin (pictiventris species-group). Two further new species are described and illustrated: A. ahdabi Kirk-Spriggs, sp. n., from the highlands of Yemen, and A. kyphosis Kirk-Spriggs, sp. n. from Madagascar. An identification key is provided for the two species-groups and for species occurring in the Afrotropical Region and an annotated checklist of world species of Axinota is provided as an Appendix. Distribution maps are included for the four species, with a list of decimal coordinates used to plot these as Appendix II. Likely means of dispersal and species radiation of Axinota in the Afrotropical Region are discussed.

Taxonomic status of Nimbocera Reiss, 1972, a junior synonym of Tanytarsus van der Wulp, 1874 (Diptera: Chironomidae)

In the past, the Nearctic Tanytarsus limneticus Sublette, 1964, as well as the Neotropical T. rhabdomantis (TrivinhoStrixino & Strixino, 1991) and Caladomyia ortoni Säwedal, 1981 were erroneously placed in Nimbocera Reiss, 1972 due to the annulated Lauterborn organ pedicels of the larvae, a feature first thought to be unique to this genus. In the present paper, the systematic position of T. limneticus, T. patagonicus and T. rhabdomantis is discussed in detail. Complete morphological diagnoses of the adult males, pupae and larvae of T. patagonicus and T. limneticus are given, in addition to descriptions and drawings of the adult males and pupae of both species. As a result, Nimbocera patagonica Reiss, 1972, recorded from southern Chile and Argentina, is transferred to the genus Tanytarsus van der Wulp, 1874. The monotypic genus Nimbocera becomes a junior subjective synonym of Tanytarsus.

New species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae) from São Paulo state, Brazil

Tanytarsus lenyae sp. n., T. giovannii sp. n., T. fittkaui sp. n. and T. alfredoi sp. n. from São Paulo State (Brazil) are described and diagnosed, the first as adult male and pupa, and the remaining as male, pupa and larva. The species were collected in areas of Cerrado, at the boundaries of São Carlos city. Complete diagnoses and drawings of the species are given. The imagos can be separated from other species of Tanytarsus van der Wulp mainly by differences in the antennal ratio, dorsomedian extension of the eyes, the thorax and wing setation, the shape of anal tergal bands, the anal point armament and the shape of superior volsella, digitus and median volsella. The pupae are characterized by the thoracic horn armament, the arrangement of the precorneals, the shape of anal comb and the abdominal setation. The larvae can be separated by differences in the antennal pedestal, the sclerotization of the second antennal segment, the size of Lauterborn organ pedicels, the shape of the clypeal seta S3 and the sclerotization of the mentum. Apparently, the four new species are not closely related, and the anal point armament alone would be enough to separate one species from the other.