Five new species in the predaceous midge genus Macrurohelea Ingram amp; Macfie from Argentina, and descriptions of the previously unknown males of M. kuscheli Wirth and M. monotheca Spinelli amp; Grogan (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

Five new Neotropical species in the predaceous midge genus Macrurohelea Ingram Macfie are described: M. bassoi, M. donatoi, M. morenoi, M. sirii, and M. ventanensis, n. spp. and the previously unknown males of M. kuscheli Wirth and M. monotheca Spinelli Grogan are described from specimens collected in several localities of Argentina and Chile. Illustrations and photomicrographs of key features of both sexes are provided as well as a key to all Neotropical species of Macrurohelea.

A new species of predaceous midge in the genus Stilobezzia Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The predaceous midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae; tribe Ceratopogonini) in the genera Schizonyxhelea Clastrier Stilobezzia Kieffer in Mexico were recently addressed by Huerta Grogan (2017) who described one new species in each of these genera. A re-examination of specimens in the Colección de Artrópodos con Importancia Medica (CAIM), from the states of Morelos and Yucatan, revealed an undescribed species that was previously identified as Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) femoralis Lane Forattini from Yucatan by Huerta (2002) and Huerta Grogan (2017). Herein, we describe and illustrate this species from the states of Morelos Yucatan, Mexico, as Stilobezzia (Stilobezzia) tobiasi Huerta Grogan n. sp.

A Revision of the Nearctic Predaceous Midges in the Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

This revision of the Nearctic predaceous midges in the Bezzia (Bezzia) pulverea complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) recognizes 11 species, seven of which are new species: Bezzia (B.) amblystyla, n. sp., from Maryland and Florida; B. (B.) brunneipedia, n. sp., from Florida; B. (B.) folkersti n. sp., from Florida; B. (B.) huberti, n. sp., from Maryland, Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana; B. (B.) leptostyla, n. sp., from Florida; B. (B.) marylandensis, n. sp., from Maryland; and, B. (B.) titanochela, n. sp., from Texas, Alabama and Florida. Photomicrographs of diagnostic characters of both sexes are included, and a key is provided to adult males and females of species in the Bezzia (B.) pulverea complex. Bezzia (B.) imbifida Dow Turner is transferred from the B. pulverea complex to the Bezzia (B.) expolita complex.

The Biting Midges of the Caribbean island Curaçao (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). I. Species in the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer.

We document the first records of biting midges in the genus Dasyhelea Kieffer (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Curaçao: Dasyhelea azteca Huerta & Grogan, D. bahamensis (Johnson), D. cincta (Coquillett), D. corinneae Gosseries, D. flavifrons (Guérin-Méneville) and D. grisea (Coquillett). The following six new species of Dasyhelea are described from this Caribbean island and their key features are presented in color photographs and illustrations: D. aliciae n. sp., D. recurva n. sp., D. latiala n. sp., D. rhopaloparamera n. sp., D. cyrtostyla n. sp., and D. curacaoensis n. sp. We also provide a key to males and females of all known species of Dasyhelea from Curaçao.

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides in South Carolina zoos.

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected during the summer of 2007 at the Greenville and Riverbanks Zoos in South Carolina with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traps equipped with ultraviolet or incandescent lights and baited with carbon dioxide. Sixteen species of Culicoides were collected, four of which represented more than 80%. They were Culicoides guttipennis (Coquillett), Culicoides mulrenanni Beck, Culicoides obsoletus (Meigen), and Culicoides sanguisuga (Coquillett). C. guttipennis was found on a dead colobus monkey and a dead golden-headed lion tamarin; Culicoides husseyi Wirth & Blanton was collected from an unidentified, abandoned bird's nest. Ultraviolet light-equipped traps captured significantly more Culicoides specimens than traps with incandescent light. Half of the collected species previously have been associated with vertebrate pathogens, indicating a potential risk to captive animals.

Mosquitoes associated with US Department of Agriculture managed wetlands on Maryland's DelMarVa Peninsula.

Mosquito faunal studies were carried out 2004-2005 in Maryland's Eastern Shore wetlands managed by the US Department of Agriculture. The wetlands included flooded fields, inundated woodlands, and tidal salt marshes. Sampling methods included larval collections, adult landing counts, and CDC light and oviposition traps. A total of 1,186 larvae and 1,363 adults identified represented 14 species. Temporary pools were found to have the highest potential for rapid mosquito colonization with Psorophora columbiae the predominant species. Aedes vexans, Culex territans/pipiens, Ps. ciliata/howardii, and Anopheles crucians were collected primarily from pond and flooded woodlands. Ochlerotatus sollicitans larvae were sampled from tidal pools. The predominant daytime landing count species was Oc. sollicitans with Ps. ciliata, Ae. vexans, and Cx. territans also identified. Light traps collected An. crucians, the principal crepuscular species from flooded wooded areas. Aedes atlanticus, An. quadrimaculatus, Coquillettidia perturbans, Cx. restuans, Oc. sollicitans, Ps. ciliata, Ps. columbiae, and Uranotaenia sapphirina were also identified. Oviposition traps collected small numbers of An. crucians at the tidal marsh, 1 Ae. albopictus, and 1 each of Cx. territans/pipiens from the flooded woodlands. As a result of this study, it was recommended that abatement strategies be implemented during and after wetland construction to minimize the creation of temporary pool breeding sites.

Spiroplasma atrichopogonis sp. nov., from a ceratopogonid biting midge.

Spiroplasma sp. strain GNAT3597T was isolated from the biting midge genus Atrichopogon (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). It was serologically distinct from other Spiroplasma species, groups or subgroups. Dark-field microscopy of the cells revealed the classical helical shape and subsequent transmission electron microscopy revealed cells surrounded by only a cell membrane (i.e. lacking a cell wall). Growth of strain GNAT3597T occurred in M1D medium at 30 degrees C. Strain GNAT3597T catabolized both glucose and arginine, but did not hydrolyse urea. The DNA G+C content of strain GNAT3597T was 29+/-1 mol%. Only one strain, SMCAT (Spiroplasma mirum), is serologically related to strain GNAT3597T, although the relationship is weak (positive reaction to only a 1 : 80 dilution). It is therefore proposed that strain GNAT3597T (=ATCC BAA-520T=NBRC 100390T) represents a novel species, Spiroplasma atrichopogonis sp. nov. (class Mollicutes: order Entomoplasmatales: family Spiroplasmataceae).