Culicoides hornsbyensis Lee and Reye

Bellis, Glenn & Dyce, Alan, 2012, Redescription of the adults of Culicoides bancrofti Lee and Reye and C. hornsbyensis Lee and Reye (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), Zootaxa 3566, pp. 51-60 : 56-59

Culicoides hornsbyensis Lee and Reye

( Figs 2, 5, 6, 8, 10 , 12, 15, 17, 19, 21 , 25, 26, 27, 29 )

Culicoides hornsbyensis Lee and Reye 1962: 361

Dyce et al. 2007:34 (female wing illustrated)

Type material ex amined: Australia, NSW Holotype, Hornsby, 25.Oct.1956, D.J. Lee, light trap (female), Paratype, same data as holotype (1 male); Hornsby, NSW, 24.Oct.1956, DJ Lee, light trap (1 female).

Non-type material examined. Australia, NSW: Hornsby, 7.Feb.1957. light trap, D.J. Lee (1 female), Hornsby, 8.Feb.1957, light trap, D.J. Lee (1 male); Hornsby, 29.Jan.1957, Light trap, D.J. Lee (1 male); Mt Dromedary, light trap, 24.Nov.1965, I. Common & M. Upton (1 male). Qld: Dittmer Mine via Proserpine, light trap, 13.Feb.1980, C. Brennan & W. Kinsella (1 female, 2 males); Woodliegh, via Mt Garnett, Lt Tp, 14.Jun.1990, P. Waddell (1 female, 1 male). PNG: Wabo, Lt Tp 20.Aug.1978 E.N. Marks (1 female).

Diagnosis. Tibial comb with four to five spines, apical pale spot in cell r5 elongate, extending almost to apex of cell. Female antennae with basal segments barrel-shaped, SCo distribution 1–13, usually with multiple SCo on flagellomeres 1–7, multiple STc on flagellomeres 1–8 and only one or two SCh on distal flagellomeres; 3rd palpal segment swollen medially. Male antennae with SCo distribution 1–4, 11–13; SCh in basal whorls on flagellomeres 11 and 12, absent from 13. Gonocoxite with ventral root short, obtuse, apicolateral processes longer than width at base, aedeagus long with bifid tip.

Female.

Head. Eyes almost touching medially ( Fig 2 ), palpus ( Fig 10 ) pale brown with 3rd segment swollen medially, bearing numerous capitate sensilla scattered on the surface of the distal 2/3 of the segment. Flagellomeres ( Fig 12 ) 2–8 little longer than wide, barrel-shaped; 9–13 subcylindrical, considerably longer than basal flagellomeres.

Thorax. Legs ( Fig 8 ) brown, fore femora with weak pale basal and apical bands, mid & hind femora dark; all tibiae with weak pale basal bands and unbanded apically. Wing ( Fig 5 ) strongly patterned, apical pale spot in cell r5 elongate and approaching wing margin apically. Tibial comb ( Fig 19 ) with 4–5 spines, 2nd from spur usually longest. Haltere light brown.

Male.

Head. Palpus with subcylindrical 3rd segment bearing relatively few capitate sensilla, these mostly on the inner surface. Antenna ( Fig 15 ) with flagellomeres 11 and 12 with a basal whorl of SCh.

Thorax. Wing ( Fig 6 ) patterned similarly to female but with less contrasting pale and dark areas. Tibial comb with 4 spines, 2nd from spur longest.

Genitalia. Hypopygium ( Fig 25 ) with lateral sides of ninth tergite concave, apicolateral processes widely separated, longer than basal width, caudal margin cleft medially. Ninth sternite with shallow caudo-medial excavation. Gonocoxite with dorsal root foot-shaped; ventral root short, triangular. Gonostylus slender, distally curving gently to a rounded apex. Aedeagus ( Fig 27 ) with moderately deep basal arch extending to about 1/2 of aedeagus length; septum absent; distal process moderately long, bifid.

Immatures. Unknown.

Distribution. ( Fig 29 ) Australia, NSW, Qld; PNG.

Biology. Unknown. Label data suggests adults are crepuscular or nocturnal.

Remarks. Features enabling differentiation of this species and C. bancrofti are described in the remarks under C. bancrofti .

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 10. Culicoides Bancrofti group species. C. bancrofti Lee & Reye, 1, female eye separation; 3, female wing; 4, male wing; 7, legs and 9, palpus. C. hornsbyensis Lee & Reye, 2, female eye separation; 5, female wing; 6, male wing; 8, legs and 10, palpus.

FIGURES 11 – 21. Culicoides Bancrofti group species. C. bancrofti Lee & Reye, 11, female antenna; 13, female flagellomere 6; 14, male antenna; 16, 17 spermathecae; 18, tibial comb; 20, mandibular teeth. C. hornsbyensis Lee & Reye, 12, female antenna; 15, male antenna; 17, spermathecae; 19, tibial comb; 21 mandibular teeth.

FIGURES 22 – 29. Culicoides Bancrofti group species. C. bancrofti Lee & Reye, 22, hypopygium; 23, parameres; 24, aedeagus; 28, distribution based on published records (Lee & Reye 1953; 1955) and specimens represented in ANIC. C. hornsbyensis Lee & Reye., 25, hypopygium; 26, parameres; 27, aedeagus; 29, distribution based on published records (Lee & Reye 1962) and specimens represented in ANIC.