Revision of the Black Fly Genus Gigantodax (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Revision of the Black Fly Genus Gigantodax (Diptera: Simuliidae)
Author: Pedro W. Wygodzinsky
Publisher:
Total Pages: 276
Release: 1989
Genre: Diptera
ISBN:

"A taxonomic study of the genus Gigantodax Enderlein is presented, including keys, descriptions, redescriptions, discussions, illustrations, and distributional and biological information. Gigantodax is the largest genus of Neotropical Prosimuliini, with 64 species extending along the Andean system from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego. Because most species described herein were collected by the authors from breeding sites, the morphology of immature and adult stages is presented. The species are tentatively arranged into eight groups as follows: (1) cortesi group; G. cortesi n. sp. (N Chile), G. jatunchuspi n. sp. (N Chile), G. punapi n. sp. (N Chile, NW Argentina, and Bolivia), G. chacabamba (Peru). (2) igniculus group; G. carmenae n. sp. (Patagonian Andes), G. igniculus Coscarón and Wygodzinsky. (3) minor group; G. araucanius (Edwards), G. eremicus n. sp. (N Chile), G. minor n. sp. (central Chile and Patagonian Andes), G. bolivianus Enderlein. (4) multifilis group; G. multifilis n. sp. (Ecuador). (5) brophyi group; G. brophyi (Edwards), G. rufidulus n. sp. (Patagonian Andes), G. antarcticus (Bigot), G. trifidus n. sp. (central Chile and Patagonian central Andes of Argentina), G. femineus (Edwards), G. marginalis (Edwards), G. kuscheli Wygodzinsky, G. luispenai n. sp. (central Chile), G. chilensis (Philippi), G. flabellus (Venezuela and Ecuador), G. awa n. sp. (east slope Peruvian Andes), G. paramorum n. sp. (Colombia), G. viannamartinsi Ramirez Perez, G. ortizi Wygodzinsky, G. multituberculatus n. sp. (Colombia and Ecuador), G. patihuaycensis n. sp. (east slope Peruvian Andes), G. laevigatus n. sp. (Ecuador), G. zumbahuae n. sp. (Ecuador). (6) cilicinus group (with three subgroups); subgroup A; G. fulvescens (Blanchard), G. shannoni (Edwards), G. destitutus n. sp. (Venezuela and Colombia), G. basinflatus n. sp. (Colombia and Ecuador), G. mariobordai n. sp. (Bolivia), G. incomitatus n. sp. (Venezuela); subgroup B; G. pennipunctus Enderlein; subgroup C; G. arrarteorum n. sp. (east slope Peruvian Andes), G. cilicinus n. sp. (central Andes of Argentina), G. clandestinus n. sp. (Ecuador). (7) cormonsi group; G. gracilis n. sp. (Ecuador), G. misitu n. sp. (Colombia and Ecuador), G. brevis n. sp. (Colombia), G. wygodzinskyi Moncada, de Hoyos, and Bueno, G. leonorum n. sp. (Ecuador), G. abalosi Wygodzinsky, G. cormonsi n. sp. (Peru), G. praealtus n. sp. (N Chile), G. vulcanius n. sp. (Ecuador), G. siberianus n. sp. (Colombia). (8) wrighti group (with two subgroups); subgroup A; G. horcotiani Wygodzinsky, G. bettyae Wygodzinsky, G. septenarius n. sp. (Venezuela and Colombia), G. conviti Ramirez Perez; subgroup B; G. aquamarensis De Leon, G. cervicornis Wygodzinsky, G. corniculatus Wygodzinsky, G. wrighti (Vargas, Martinez, and Diaz Najera), G. nasutus n. sp. (Colombia), G. rufescens (Edwards), G. dryadicaudicis n. sp. (central Chile and Patagonian Andes), G. incapucara n. sp. (Bolivia), G. herreris n. sp. (Peru and N Chile), G. impossibilis Wygodzinsky, and G. cypellus n. sp. (Ecuador). The following new synonymies are recorded: G. nigrescens (Edwards) with G. antarcticus (Bigot), G. rufinotus (Edwards) with G. chilensis (Philippi), S. philippianus Pinto with G. marginalis (Edwards), and G. bonorinorum Coscarón and Wygodzinsky with G. brophyi (Edwards)"--P. 3.

Medical Insects and Arachnids

Medical Insects and Arachnids
Author: R.P. Lane
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 733
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401115540

Surprising though it seems, the world faces almost as great a threat today from arthropod-borne diseases as it did in the heady days of the 1950s when global eradication of such diseases by eliminating their vectors with synthetic insecticides, particularly DDT, seemed a real possibility. Malaria, for example, still causes tremendous morbidity and mortality throughout the world, especially in Africa. Knowledge of the biology of insect and arachnid disease vectors is arguably more important now than it has ever been. Biological research directed at the development of better methods of control becomes even more important in the light of the partial failure of many control schemes that are based on insecticide- although not all is gloom, since basic biological studies have contributed enormously to the outstanding success of international control programmes such as the vast Onchocerciasis Control Programme in West Africa. It is a sine qua non for proper understanding of the epidemiology and successful vector control of any human disease transmitted by an arthropod that all concerned with the problem - medical entomologist, parasitologist, field technician - have a good basic understanding of the arthropod's biology. Knowledge will be needed not only of its direct relationship to any parasite or pathogen that it transmits but also of its structure, its life history and its behaviour - in short, its natural history. Above all, it will be necessary to be sure that it is correctly identified.

Manual of Central American Diptera

Manual of Central American Diptera
Author: Brian Victor Brown
Publisher: NRC Research Press
Total Pages: 729
Release: 2009
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0660198339

While volume 1 includes several introductory chapters and treats 42 families of flies in the Lower Diptera, volume 2 covers the remaining 64 families of flies that make up the Higher Diptera (or Cyclorrhapha). These include families of house flies, fruit flies, bot flies, flower flies and many other lesser-known groups. The text is accompanies by over 1660 line drawings and photographs.

A Systematic Revision of the Sabellidae-Caobangiidae-Sabellongidae Complex, (Annelida: Polychaeta)

A Systematic Revision of the Sabellidae-Caobangiidae-Sabellongidae Complex, (Annelida: Polychaeta)
Author: Kirk Fitzhugh
Publisher:
Total Pages: 112
Release: 1989
Genre: Sabellida
ISBN:

"A cladistic analysis is conducted, encompassing a series of hierarchical levels within the Sabellidae-Caobangiidae-Sabellongidae complex. Generic relationships within this complex are examined using 36 genera and 43 characters. Outgroup comparisons with the Serpulidae s.s. and Spirorbidae are initially suggested. It is argued, however, that maintaining the Spirorbidae results in the Serpulidae being paraphyletic. Therefore, the Serpulidae s.l. (including spirorbids) are used as the outgroup. The possibility of using the Terebellomorpha (= Terebellida) as an outgroup is discussed. The more inclusive relationship between the orders Sabellida and Spionida is examined, leading to the conclusion that the Spionida is paraphyletic by way of recognizing the Sabellida. Sixteen most parsimonious cladograms are found, differing only slightly in the placement of some genera. Caobangia Giard and Sabellonga Hartman, representing the monotypic Caobangiidae and Sabellongidae, respectively, fall within the Sabellidae. In order to define the Sabellidae as monophyletic, Caobangia and Sabellonga must be placed in this family. Present sabellid subfamilies are either paraphyletic or polyphyletic, except for the monotypic Myxicolinae. Revised monophyletic subfamilies are suggested, comprising a more restricted Fabriciinae and expanded Sabellinae. Caobangia is placed into the former subfamily, while Sabellonga is moved to the latter. The Myxicolinae is not recognized, with Myxicola Koch in Renier being placed in the Sabellinae. Genera of the revised Sabellidae are reviewed in light of the characters used in the cladistic analysis. Several genera are poorly defined in terms of monophyly (e.g., Oriopsis Caullery and Mesnil, Jasmineira Langerhans), while six genera are not defined by synapomorphies: Chone Kröyer, Sabellastarte Kröyer, Perkinsiana Knight-Jones, Pseudopotamilla Bush, Eudistylia Bush, and Schizobranchia Bush. Setal transformation series are discussed, suggesting the presence of regulatory mechanisms localized within a particular body region or operating throughout the thorax and abdomen. Such mechanisms appear to allow for considerable structural lability, resulting in convergence of thoracic and abdominal setal forms from different plesiomorphic states. In some cases, it also appears as though abdominal setal forms may be controlled by segment age and location along the body. Changes in thoracic or abdominal setal forms in notopodia and neuropodia within a particular segment appear to be independent of one another"--P. 4.