ABSTRACT
Currently, according to the most recent Simuliidae World Inventory, there are 97 valid species of blackflies recorded in Brazil, some of which act as vectors for zoonoses such as human onchocerciasis and mansonellosis in the northern and central-western regions of the country. Meanwhile, other species can cause serious socioeconomic problems due to the nuisance of female bites. Therefore, accurate knowledge of their distribution is crucial for the development and implementation of successful preventive strategies. With this aim, this study reviewed and updated the geographical distribution of the blackfly fauna throughout the Brazilian states. The data were compiled from three main sources: geographic information of material deposited at the Simuliidae Collection of the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CSIOC-IOC), a comprehensive review of scientific literature, and online biodiversity databases. We present a total of 71 new distribution records of 38 different Simuliidae species for 24 Brazilian states. Neither of these sets of records has been included in the Simuliidae World Inventory. Consequently, an updated Brazilian Simuliidae checklist, comprising a total of 98 valid species, is presented, highlighting these new distribution records. We also discuss six dubious records for the country and the implications of this updated data for the Simuliidae species richness of Brazil, its states, and biomes. This information is essential for future studies in the taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of this family in Brazil.
Subject(s)
Animal Distribution , Biodiversity , Simuliidae , Animals , Brazil , Simuliidae/classification , Checklist , FemaleABSTRACT
A new species of black fly from rock fields of southeaster Brazil, Simulium maiaherzogae sp. nov., is described based on morphological features of larval, pupal and adult specimens. Morphological features of this new species were compared with members of Simulium (Trichodagmia) Enderlein 1934, showing a high similarity with S. scutistriatum Lutz 1909 and S. itajara Nascimento, et al. 2020. However, features of the male and female scutum and genitalia, pupal tubercles disposition, pupal gills, larval cephalic appendages, larval gill histoblast, numbers of posterior proleg hooks and rectal papillae lobules, allow to differentiate S. maiaherzogae sp. nov. Moreover, a more detailed analysis using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed significant differences and numerical variations in meristic data between the new species and S. scutistriatum. The known distribution of this new species is restricted to the Rio do Salto sub-basin, headland of the Middle Paraíba do Sul River, near the Ibitipoca State Park, a region recognised for its biodiversity richness, but with rare simuliids records.
Subject(s)
Simuliidae , Animals , Biodiversity , Brazil , Female , Larva , Male , Pupa , Simuliidae/anatomy & histology , Simuliidae/classificationABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Simulium (Inaequalium) Coscarón and Wygodzinsky, 1984 is a homogeneous subgenus widely spread on the Neotropical Region, which the adults can only be reliably identified from linked-reared specimens. Despite many revisionary works only a single character of the pupal gill separates Simulium diversibranchium Lutz, 1910 from S. mariavulcanoae Coscarón and Wygodzinsky, 1984. Specimens of both species show that S. mariavulcanoae is a junior synonym of S. diversibranchium. The relationship between S. diversibranchium and S. subnigrum Lutz, 1910 needs further investigation. Some features of the pupal gill often used as diagnosis in Simulium (Inaequalium) species, such as the direction of gill filaments or the height of the bifurcation of the secondary or tertiary branches of the pupal gill are highly polymorphic, making its use as diagnostic character not reliable.
