Afrotropical Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae): description of Culicoides baltusi sp. n. and Culicoides theileri sp. n., two new species related to Culicoides brucei from southern Africa

Abstract

The genus Culicoides Latreille is represented by 160 described species in the Afrotropical region. Evidence suggests that there may be at least 30 species still need to be described in South Africa. Culicoides baltusi Labuschagne and Meiswinkel†* sp. n. and Culicoides theileri Labuschagne and Meiswinkel sp. n. are described and illustrated for both sexes from material collected in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe since 1990. We propose that both species be placed in the subgenus Culicoides Latreille. Morphological and molecular evidence indicate that these two species are related to Culicoides brucei Austen. Culicoides theileri sp. n. is restricted to the drier western areas of the Northern and Western Cape provinces, while C. baltusi sp. n. on the other hand is widely distributed across southern Africa, as is C. brucei. These three species can be separated based on size and wing pattern. Breeding habitat of all three species is not known. Published research utilising precipitin tests and PCR indicate that the adult female blood feeding preferences of C. baltusi sp. n. and C. brucei are large mammals, including bovines and equids. Those of C. theileri sp. n. are not known, though it likely also feeds on large mammals. Extensive light trap data, collected over 30 years, were extracted from the National Collection of Insects of Veterinary Importance (NCIVI) database and are used to map the distribution ranges of C. baltusi sp. n., and C. theileri sp. n. and C. brucei in southern Africa. The description of these two new species increases our understanding of the diversity and distribution of Culicoides species in southern Africa.