Simulium (Gomphostilbia) khelangensesp. nov. is described on the basis of females, collected by a sweeping net in Lampang, Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai Provinces, Thailand. This new species is placed in the S.chumpornense subgroup of the S.varicorne species-group in the subgenus Gomphostilbia Enderlein by having the antenna with eight flagellomeres, pleural membrane bare, and female subcosta lacking hairs. It is similar to S.kuvangkadilokae Pramual & Tangkawanit from Thailand in the same subgroup but is barely distinguished from the latter species by the head width relative to the greatest width of the frons and length of the labrum relative to the clypeus. A genetic analysis using the COI gene sequences similarly shows that S.khelangense sp. nov. is most closely related to S.kuvangkadilokae, with a genetic distance of 1.23-2.81%. A revised key to identify females of 14 species of the S.varicorne species-group is provided.
An 11-year-old boy living in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Kansai Region, Western Honshu, Japan had zoonotic onchocercosis. The patient developed a painful swelling on the little finger of his left hand. The worm detected in the excised mass had external transverse ridges but did not have inner striae in the cuticle. On the basis of the parasite's histopathological characteristics, the causative agent was identified as a female Onchocerca dewittei japonica (Spirurida: Onchocercidae). The species of the filarial parasite was confirmed by sequencing the cox1 gene of the parasite. The Japanese wild boar Sus scrofa leucomystax is a definitive host for O. dewittei japonica, which is then transmitted by blackflies as the vector to humans. The current case described occurred in the Kansai Region, Western Honshu, where such infections were previously not reported.
The increasing attention on Vietnam as a biodiversity hotspot prompted an investigation of the potential for cryptic diversity in black flies, a group well known elsewhere for its high frequency of isomorphic species. We analyzed the banding structure of the larval polytene chromosomes in the Simulium tuberosum species group to probe for diversity beyond the morphological level. Among 272 larvae, 88 different chromosomal rearrangements, primarily paracentric inversions, were discovered in addition to 25 already known in the basic sequences of the group in Asia. Chromosomal diversity in Vietnam far exceeds that known for the group in Thailand, with only about 5% of the rearrangements shared between the two countries. Fifteen cytoforms and nine morphoforms were revealed among six nominal species in Vietnam. Chromosomal evidence, combined with available molecular and morphological evidence, conservatively suggests that at least five of the cytoforms are valid species, two of which require formal names. The total chromosomal rearrangements and species (15) now known from the group in Vietnam far exceed those of any other area of comparable size in the world, supporting the country's status as a biodiversity hotspot. Phylogenetic inference based on uniquely shared, derived chromosomal rearrangements supports the clustering of cytoforms into two primary lineages, the Simulium tani complex and the Southeast Asian Simulium tuberosum subgroup. Some of these taxa could be threatened by habitat destruction, given their restricted geographical distributions and the expanding human population of Vietnam.
A black fly species of the Simulium feuerborni species-group of Simulium (Nevermannia) from Cameron Highland, Peninsular Malaysia, previously regarded as S. feuerborni Edwards, originally described from East Java, is described as Simulium pairoti sp. nov. based on complete life stages. High intraspecific variations in the arrangement of the six pupal gill filaments, length of the stalk of the ventral paired filaments, and length of the anterodorsal projection of the cocoon, are noted in this species. This new species is readily distinguished from its congeners by having the characters of male genitalia with simple lamellate ventral plate, short inwardly-twisted styles, several parameral hooks, and a simple narrow median sclerite. Morphological data reported herein plus the chromosomal and molecular data presented elsewhere support S. pairoti as a novel pseudocryptic species.
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 black flies, Simulium mainitense and S. tukurongense, are described from Palawan, the Philippines. Both species are placed in the Simulium nitidithorax subgroup of the Simulium tuberosum species-group of Simulium (Simulium). They are characterized by the female sensory vesicle of medium length, pupal thorax covered with round tubercles, and anterodorsal trichomes on the pupal thorax longer than frontal trichomes. This combination of characters separates these two new species from S. quasifrenum Delfinado, the only previously known member of the S. nitidithorax subgroup from Palawan, and nine other related species from Sabah, Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia and India. Simulium mainitense sp. nov. is distinguished from S. tukurongense sp. nov. in the female by the somewhat larger body size, and greater length ratio of the labrum against the clypeus; and in the pupa by the much longer gill filaments.
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.
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.
Two new species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia), S. (G.) myanmarense and S. (G.) monglaense, are described from females, males, pupae and larvae from Myanmar. The two new species are placed in the S. asakoae species-group, and are similar to each other in the female and male but distinguished in the pupa by the presence or absence of an anterodorsal projection of the cocoon, and in the larva by a unique pattern of colored markings on the abdomen. Taxonomic notes are given to separate these species from related species. The COI gene sequences of both species are compared with those of eight species of the S. asakoae species-group and three species of the S. ceylonicum species-group. Both new species are most closely related to each other, further supporting their morphological classification in the S. asakoae species-group.
Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) brinchangense and S. (G.) tanahrataense, are described on the basis of reared adult females, males, pupae and larvae from Cameron's Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia. These new species are assigned to the asakoae species-group within Simulium (Gomphostilbia) and taxonomic notes are given to distinguish each new species from six known species in Malaysia. Revised keys to identify all 21 species including 13 species from other countries are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae. The species diversity of the asakoae species-group in Cameron's Highlands is briefly noted.
Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimisp. n. and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauensesp. n., are described on the basis of reared adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Peninsular Malaysia. These two new species are placed in the ceylonicum species-group within the subgenus Gomphostilbia. Simulium (Gomphostilbia) roslihashimisp. n. is most distinctive with the male having almost entirely yellow antennae, and Simulium (Gomphostilbia) lurauensesp. n. is characterized in the female by having the elongate sensory vesicle and the yellowish-white hairs on the base of the costal vein and on the stem vein, in the male by the greater number of large upper-eye facets and the spindle-shaped hind basitarsi which are much narrower than the hind tibiae and femora and in the pupa by the small terminal hooks. Keys to species of the ceylonicum species-group reported from Peninsular Malaysia are provided for females, males, pupae and mature larvae.
Two new black fly species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) kaohsiungense and S. (G.) shoufengense, are described from females, males and pupae in Taiwan. These new species are placed in the S. asakoae species-group. Simulium (G.) kaohsiungense sp. nov. is characterized by a combination of the elongate female sensory vesicle, male upper-eye (large) facets in 15 vertical columns and 15 or 16 horizontal rows, male hind basitarsus 1.02-1.15 times the width of the hind femur, and widened pupal terminal hooks. These characteristics distinguish this new species from most species of the S. asakoae species-group. Simulium (G.) shoufengense sp. nov. is similar in the female and male to S. (G.) asakoae Takaoka & Davies originally described from Peninsular Malaysia but is distinguished from the latter species in the pupa by the combined length of the primary and secondary stalks of the dorsal triplet of gill filaments as long as or longer than the common basal stalk of the gill, and dorsum of abdominal segments 1 and 2 not darkened. The species previously regarded in Taiwan as S. (G.) metatarsale Brunetti, originally described from India, is morphologically and molecularly identified as S. (G.) asakoae.
Simulium ( Simulium) rufibasis Brunetti originally described from India was once considered a geographic generalist widely distributed in the Oriental Region. In this study, the species previously regarded as S. (S.) rufibasis in Taiwan was morphologically re-evaluated and found to be distinguished in the male and pupa from true S. (S.) rufibasis from India. This new species is described as S. ( S.) hehuanense sp. nov. based on a female, a male and their pupal exuviae in Taiwan. This new species is placed in the S. rufibasis subgroup of the S. tuberosum species-group, and is similar to S. (S.) yamatoense Takaoka, Adler & Fukuda from Japan and Korea, but it is barely distinguished by the slenderer forebasitarsi of the female and male. Another new, related species, S. (S.) xiulinense sp. nov., is described based on a male and its pupal exuviae. This new species is distinguished from S. (S.) hehuanense sp. nov. by the number of male upper-eye (large) facets in 20 or 21 vertical columns and 22 horizontal rows (19 vertical columns and 19 horizontal rows in the latter species), and presence of a pair of dorsolateral shiny spots on male abdominal segment 5 (absence in the latter species). Both new species inhabit streams at high elevations (ca, 2,600 m). They differ from S. (S.) sp. (probably S. (S.) arisanum Shiraki) from Taiwan, of the same subgroup, which breeds in streams at low elevations (433-685 m), by the pupal head and thorax covered with tubercles (bare in the latter species).
Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Simulium) murudense and Simulium (Simulium) cheedhangi, are described on the basis of females, males, pupae, and larvae collected in Mount Murud, Sarawak, Malaysia. Both species belong to the Simulium melanopus Edwards species group. S. (S.) murudense sp. nov. is distinguished from most known species by a combination of the haired basal portion of the radial vein and the darkened fore coxae, and S. (S.) cheedhangi sp. nov. is characterized in the female by having a medium-sized claw tooth and in the pupa by six somewhat inflated gill filaments. Notes are given on the S. melanopus species-group in Sarawak and Sabah.
Two new species of black flies, Simulium (Simulium) srisukai and S. (S.) kiewmaepanense, are described from specimens collected in Thailand. Both species are assigned to the Simulium variegatum species-group of the subgenus Simulium (Simulium) Latreille. They are characterized by the darkened female femora and tibiae and six inflated pupal gill filaments, and the darkened female tibiae and six ordinary thread-like pupal gill filaments, respectively. Taxonomic notes are given to separate these new species from 10 related species among the group. These new species represent the third and fourth species of the S. variegatum species-group from Thailand.
Two new species, Simulium (Gomphostilbia) sunapii and S. (G.) rangatense, are described based on adults, pupae, and mature larvae from Flores, in the eastern part of the Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia. Simulium (G.) sunapii sp. nov. is placed in the S. asakoae species-group, representing the easternmost geographical record for the group in this archipelago. It is characterized by a small number of male upper-eye large facets in eight or nine vertical columns and 12 horizontal rows. Simulium (G.) rangatense sp. nov. is placed in the S. ceylonicum species-group and is characterized by the pupal gill with six filaments. This new species, together with two related species of the S. ceylonicum species-group in Flores, suggests the species radiation of this species-group might have been accompanied by a reduction of the number of pupal gill filaments from eight to four through six. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish these two new species from related species.
Females and males reared from pupae, their pupal exuviae and cocoons, and mature larvae of the Simulium (Gomphostilbia) asakoae species group from various localities in Thailand were morphologically examined. A total of 25 species was identified, including two of four known species (Simulium asakoae Takaoka & Davies and S. chiangdaoense Takaoka & Srisuka), one newly confirmed species (S. myanmarense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung, originally described from Myanmar), one newly transferred species (S. inthanonense Takaoka & Suzuki formerly of the S. ceylonicum species group), and 21 new species. Descriptions of all 21 new species are given, and the first full description of the male of S. inthanonense, together with the revised descriptions of its female, pupa, and larva, is also provided. Keys to identify all 27 members of this species group from Thailand are given for females, males, pupae, and larvae. The genetic relationships of all but one species were resolved using COI gene sequence-based analysis. All 26 species were divided into nine subgroups, I-IX, each consisting of two, one, four, nine, one, three, two, one and three species, respectively.
Three new species of black flies from Thailand, Simulium wangkwaiense, S. tadtonense and S. maeklongkeense, are described based on their adults, pupal exuviae and cocoons. All three new species are assigned to the Simulium (Simulium) striatum species-group, bringing its total number in Thailand to seven. Simulium wangkwaiense sp. nov. is the species formerly called S. quinquestriatum in Thailand. Certain male and pupal morphological characteristics are shown to separate all seven Thai species of this species-group. All of the three new species have been analyzed genetically for their phylogenetic relationships, with three known related species (except for S. thailandicum), by using the fast-evolving nuclear big zinc finger (BZF) gene.
Simulium (Gomphostilbia) dhangi sp. nov., S. (G.) sumbaense sp. nov. and S. (Nevermannia) wayani sp. nov. are described from the Lesser Sunda Archipelago, Indonesia. Simulium (G.) sumbaense sp. nov. is placed in the S. varicorne species-group and is characterized by the pupal gill with eight filaments arranged as (1+1+1+1+2)+2 from dorsal to ventral, while S. (G.) dhangi sp. nov., unplaced to group, is characterized by the pupal gill composed of two inflated trunks and four slender filaments all arising basally, and the short larval antenna as long as the stem of the labral fan. Simulium (N.) wayani sp. nov. belongs to the S. ruficorne species-group and is characterized by the female spermatheca with an unsclerotized neck, and pupal gill with four inflated filaments. The number of species of black flies from the archipelago increases from 19 to 22.
Three new species of black flies, Simulium (Nevermannia) langbiangense, S. (N.) phami, and S. (N.) bachmaense, are described on the basis of females, males, pupae and larvae collected in Vietnam. All three species are assigned to the Simulium feuerborni species-group of Simulium (Nevermannia). Simulium (N.) langbiangense sp. nov. is characterized by the female sensory vesicle with a large opening, and a short common basal stalk of the six pupal gill filaments, S. (N.) phami sp. nov. is most striking in having the pupal gill with five filaments, a character not reported in species of the S. feuerborni species-group, and S. (N.) bachmaense sp. nov. is characterized by the female genital fork with a triangular lobe-like projection pointed posteromedially on each arm, and the small larval postgenal cleft. This represents the first record of the S. feuerborni species-group from Vietnam.