The taxonomic status of Agelanius antenninus (Philip, 1969) was evaluated on the basis of a morphological study of the holotype, described from Huánuco, Peru. Results of analyses of A. antenninus and ...its morphological comparison with A. meridianus Rondani, the type-species of Agelanius Rondani, proved that A. antenninus does not belong to the genus Agelanius. The subgenus Styphocera Philip is reinstated as a valid subgenus of Stypommisa Enderlein. Thus, the generic combination Stypommisa (Styphocera) antennina Philip should be reinstated for this species.
Two new horse fly species, Dasybasis mancoi sp. nov. and D. huaynai sp. nov. (Diptera: Tabanidae: Diachlorini), are described from the Peruvian Andes near Cusco on the basis of morphological ...features, including those of the female genitalia. Digital photographs of both species and of the terminalia of both females and of one male are provided. The two new species are related to D. bulbula Coscarn & Philip, as evidenced by their similar morphological characteristics.
A catalog of the Chamaemyiidae of Chile is provided. We present all valid names and synonyms for the 14 species and eight genera and subgenera distributed in the country, including information about ...name, author, year of publication, page number, type-species, type depository, type locality and references. The chamaemyiid fauna of Chile is small, with the largest genus, Ortalidina Blanchard having only five species. Species of the subgenus Xenoleucopis Malloch of the genus Leucopis Meigen (even if referred to only as sp.) are the most cited due to their apparent potential as biological control agents, or the many works recording their biology. The geographical distribution of the different species was compiled from bibliographic data and revised collections.
Buestanmyia gen. nov., is described from Pichincha Province, Ecuador with one included species, with B. chiriboga sp. nov. It is characterized by very short and scarce ommatrichia, frons wide and ...slightly divergent below, basal callus subquadrate with median dorsal projection reaching half the height of the frons, ocellar triangle and ocelli absent, scape 3.5x the length of the pedicel, scape and pedicel with strong and erect hairs, proboscis less than the length of the head, basicosta bare, wings slightly smoky, with clouds on the cells costal and subcostal, vein R4 with a short appendix; cell cup with short appendix.
Treated herein are the 113 described species and two described subspecies in 25 genera of the family Sciomyzidae (snail-killing or marsh flies) known from the Americas south of the United States. ...Included are details on type specimens, references to generic transfers and synonymies, taxonomy, biology, gastropod hosts/prey, immature stages, chromosomes, biological and phenological groups, general distribution, and molecular data. Annotated keys are presented to adults of genera known from the Nearctic-Neotropical interface area and the Neotropics as well as the first key to all sciomyzid genera known from the Nearctic Region. Also presented is the first key to third-instar sciomyzid larvae in the Neotropical Region. Sepedonea isthmi (Steyskal) is placed as a junior synonym of S. annulata Macquart (new status), and Tetanocera plumifera Wulp is placed as a junior synonym of T. plumosa Loew (new status).
A catalog of the Sciomyzidae of Chile is presented. Included are all valid names and synonyms for the 27 species and 11 genera known from Chile, including information about name, author, year of ...publication, page number, type species, type depository, type locality, and references. Tetanoceroides Malloch is the most species-rich genus in Chile, with seven species, followed by Pherbellia Robineau-Desvoidy, with five species; however, if undescribed species are included, Pherbellia is the most species-rich genus in Chile, with nine species. The geographic distribution of species was determined from examination of bibliographic data and label data on specimens in collections. A key is provided to the genera of Sciomyzidae in Chile.
•Negative detection of Flavivirus RNA in mosquitoes from Chile.•Chile is still free of Flavivirus in mosquitoes.•RT-PCR and RT-qPCR detection tools for Flavivirus RNA.
Geographic isolation and strict ...control limits in border areas have kept Chile free from various pathogens, including Flavivirus. However, the scenario is changing mainly due to climate change, the reintroduction of more aggressive mosquitoes, and the great wave of migration of people from endemic countries in recent years. Hence, it is necessary to surveillance mosquitoes to anticipate a possible outbreak in the population and take action to control it. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Flavivirus RNA by molecular tools with consensus primers in mosquitoes collected in the extreme north and central Chile. From 2019 to 2021, a prospective study was carried out in localities of Northern and part of Central Chile. Larvae, pupae, and adults of mosquitoes were collected in rural and urban sites in each locality. The collected samples were pooled by species and geographical location and tested using RT-PCR and RT-qPCR to determine presence of Flavivirus. 3085 specimens were collected, the most abundant specie Culex quinquefasciatus in the North and Aedes (Ochlerotatus) albifasciatus in the Center of Chile. Both genera are associated with Flavivirus transmission. However, PCR and RT-PCR did not detect Flavivirus RNA in the mosquitoes studied. These negative results indicate we are still a free Flavivirus country, which is reaffirmed by the non-existence of endemic human cases. Despite this, routine surveillance of mosquitoes and the pathogens they carry is highly recommended to evaluate each area-specific risk of vector-borne transmission.
The phylogeny of the genus Pelecorhynchus Macquart (Diptera: Pelecorhynchidae) was analyzed using three genes, cytochrome oxidase I, 28S ribosomal DNA, and CAD5, with 112 morphological ...characteristics. A total of 59 specimens (13 outgroups and 46 ingroups) were included in the analysis. The monophyly of Pelecorhynchidae was recovered under all analyses, with Glutops Burgess as the sister group of Pelecorhynchus s.l., while Pseudoerinna jonesi (Cresson) was the sister group. Within Pelecorhynchus there are three main clades with unresolved affinities. Clade I was formed by P. personatus (Walker), P. vulpes (Macquart), P. penai Pechuman and P. kroeberi (Lindner), a well-supported clade. Clade II corresponds to the set of species of Chilean Pelecorhynchus, conformed to P. biguttatus (Philippi), P. toltensis Llanos & Gonzlez, P. elegans (Philippi), P. xanthopleura (Philippi), P. hualqui Llanos & Gonzlez, and P. longicauda (Bigot), a well-supported clade. Clade III is represented exclusively by P. fulvus Ricardo, which has an exclusively Australian distribution. The monophyly of P. fulvus and its nomenclature remain an open question, as only a single species of this taxon was included. Our study demonstrated that the concept of Pelecorhynchus should be revisited. Therefore, we restore Coenura Bigot, 1857 to generic status for part of the southern South American species of Pelecorhynchus conformed by the species C. biguttata, C. elegans, C. hualqui, C. longicauda, C. toltensis, and C. xanthopleura which are monophyletic, supported by molecular and morphological data, and consistent with a Chilean distribution.
Culex apicinus Philippi, 1865 and its synonyms, Phalangomyia debilis Dyar & Knab, 1914, Cx. escomeli Brèthes, 1920 and Cx. alticola Martini, 1931, were re-examined employing molecular and ...morphological phylogenetic methods. Archival and fresh specimens were used for morphological diagnosis and to generate fragments of two single-copy nuclear genes (CAD, HB) and one mitochondrial gene (COI). Additional sequences of Cx. apicinus and species of the subgenus Culex of Culex Linnaeus, 1758 and other subgenera of the genus were obtained from GenBank for molecular analysis. Diagnostic morphological characteristics of Cx. apicinus and other species of the subgenus Culex were contrasted. Phylogenetic relationships were generated using DNA sequences of protein coding genes under both Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian approaches. Culex apicinus showed unique morphological traits that allow its classification in a separate subgenus. The subspecific status is supported by its recovery as a monophyletic clade within the genus Culex based on morphological and molecular characters. The synonymous Phalangomyia debilis provides an available subgeneric name. Consequently, Phalangomyia Dyar & Knab, 1914 is resurrected from synonymy with Culex Linnaeus, 1758 as a monobasic subgenus of Culex.
A catalog of the Nemestrinidae from Chile is provided. Included are all valid names and synonyms for the 37 species and four genera from Chile, including information about the name, author, year of ...publication, page number, type species, type locality, and references. Trichophthalma Westwood is the most species-rich genus in Chile, with eighteen species, followed by Hyrmophlaeba Rondani, with twelve species. The geographical distribution of species was recorded from the examination of bibliographic data, label data on specimens in collections, and records of citizen science. Biological interactions are provided for each species when possible.
