Description of five new species of frog-biting midges (Diptera, Corethrellidae) from Brazil and examination of new morphological characters with utility for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies
Abstract
Family Corethrellidae has a worldwide distribution with most known extant species occurring in the Neotropics, many with only the adult stages described. Despite previous efforts, one remaining problem in the taxonomy of Corethrellidae is the challenge of delimiting species due to the current range of morphological characters included in descriptions to date. This paper discusses additional morphological evidence to distinguish species and their phylogenetic relationships. Together with fresh samples collected in Bahia, the only state in the Northeast Region with records of corethrellids, and slide-mounted specimens from other regions, five new species are described: Corethrella pindorama sp. nov., C. patasho sp. nov., C. fuscifimbria sp. nov. and C. unifasciata sp. nov. based on female adults; and C. bifida sp. nov. based on male and female adults, and larval and pupal exuviae. We also provide complementary descriptions comprising the novel characters for 33 previously described species, including the immature stages of nine. Fifteen species are newly recorded for Bahia and the Northeast Region, of which two are new records for Brazil. Additionally, we provide remarks about the biology of species, an updated list of species recorded in Brazil and an updated taxonomic key of New World species, modified from Borkent (2008).
References
Almeida J.F., Picelli A.M., Ramires A.C., Belchior H.C.M., Marialva E.F., Lima H.I.M.M., Ríos-Velásquez C.M. & Pessoa F.A.C. 2021. Description of three new species of frog–biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) from the Central Brazilian Amazon. European Journal of Taxonomy 778 (1): 148–166. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2021.778.1577
Amaral A.P. 2020. Corethrella cf. fulva larva feeding on culicid. YouTube video. Available from https://youtu.be/HZekdXUMEOM [accessed 1 Dec. 2021].
Amaral A.P. & Pinho L.C. 2015. New species and records of frog-biting midges from southern Brazil (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Zootaxa 3946 (2): 274–284. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3946.2.9
Amaral A.P., Huerta H. & Pinho L.C. 2018. Family Corethrellidae. In: Hamada N., Thorp J.H. & Rogers D.C. (eds) Thorp and Covich’s Freshwater Invertebrates: 751–753. Academic Press, Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804223-6.00036-6
Amaral A.P., Mariano R. & Pinho L.C. 2019. Four new species and some new records of Brazilian frog-biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Zootaxa 4706 (1): 103–120. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4706.1.4
Amaral A.P., Bello-González O.C. & Pinho L.C. 2021. Corethrella stenostyla sp. n., a new frog-biting midge (Diptera: Corethrellidae) from Cuba. Zootaxa 5060 (4): 595–598. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5060.4.9
Ambrozio-Assis A., Cortês Lopes B., Amaral A.P., Pinho L.C., Peeters E.T.H.M. & Neckel-Oliveira S. 2018. Preferences for anuran calls in hematophagous corethrellids (Diptera: Corethrellidae) from Southern Brazil. Austral Entomology 58 (3): 622–628. https://doi.org/10.1111/aen.12376
Amorim D.S. 2012. Biogeografia da Região Neotropical. In: Rafael J.A, Melo G.A.R., Carvalho C.J.B, Casari S.A. & Constantino R. (eds) Insetos do Brasil: Diversidade e Taxonomia, Vol. 1: 112–132. Holos, São Paulo.
Balseiro E.G. & Spinelli G.R. 1984. Estados preimaginales y redescripcion de la genitalia masculina de Corethrella quadrivittata Shannon y Del Ponte 1927 (Diptera: Chaoboridae). Historia Natural 4: 193–196.
Baranov V.A., Kvifte G.M. & Perkovsky E.E. 2016. Two new species of fossil Corethrella Coquillett from Late Eocene Rovno amber, with a species level phylogeny for the family based on morphological traits (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Systematic Entomology 41 (3): 531–540. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12172
Belkin J.N. 1950. A revised nomenclature for the chaetotaxy of the mosquito larva (Diptera: Culicidae). The American Midland Naturalist 44 (3): 678–698. https://doi.org/10.2307/2421828
Belkin J.N. 1962. The Mosquitoes of the South Pacific (Diptera, Culicidae). Volume 1. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles.
Belkin J.N. 1968. Mosquito studies (Diptera: Culicidae). VII. The Culicidae of New Zealand. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 3 (1): 1–182.
Belkin J.N. & McDonald W.A. 1955. A population of Corethrella laneana from Death Valley, with descriptions of all stages and discussion of the Corethrellini (Diptera, Culicidae). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 54 (2): 82–96.
Belkin J.N., Heinemann S.J. & Page W.A. 1970. Mosquito studies (Diptera: Culicidae). XXI. The Culicidae of Jamaica. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 6 (1): 1–458.
Bernal X.E. & Pinto C.M. 2016. Sexual differences in prevalence of a new species of trypanosome infecting túngara frogs. International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife 5 (1): 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.01.005
Bernal X.E. & de Silva P. 2015. Cues used in host-seeking behavior by frog-biting midges (Corethrella spp. Coquillet). Journal of Vector Ecology 40: 122–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12140
Borkent A. 2008. The frog-biting midges of the world (Corethrellidae: Diptera). Zootaxa 1804 (1): 1–456. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.1804.1.1
Borkent A. 2012. The pupae of Culicomorpha — morphology and a new phylogenetic tree. Zootaxa 3396 (1): 1–98. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3396.1.1
Borkent A. & Grafe T.U. 2012. The frog-biting midges of Borneo—from two to eleven species (Corethrellidae: Diptera). Zootaxa 3279 (1): 1–45. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3279.1.1
Borkent A. & McKeever S. 1990. First instar larvae of Corethrella appendiculata Grabham have a prothoracic proleg (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 21: 219–223. https://doi.org/10.1163/187631290X00166
Boulton A.J., Valett H.M. & Fisher S.G. 1992. Spatial distribution and taxonomic composition of the hyporheos of several Sonoran Desert streams. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 125: 37–61.
Caldart V.M., dos Santos M.B., Iop S., Pinho L.C. & Cechin S.Z. 2016. Hematophagous flies attracted to frog calls in a preserved seasonal forest of the Austral Neotropics, with a description of a new species of Corethrella (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Zoological Science 33 (5): 527–536. https://doi.org/10.2108/zs150173
Calor A.R. & Mariano R. 2012. UV light pan traps for collecting aquatic insects. EntomoBrasilis 5 (2): 164–166. https://doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v5i2.187
Cook E.F. 1956. The Nearctic Chaoborinae (Diptera: Culicidae). University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Bulletin 218: 1–102.
Courtney G.W., Sinclair B.J. & Meier R. 2000. Morphology and terminology of Diptera larvae. In: Papp L. & Darvas B. (eds) Contributions to a Manual of Palaearctic Diptera, Vol. 1: 85–161. Science Herald, Budapest.
Cumming J.M. & Wood D.M. 2017. Adult morphology and terminology. In: Kirk-Spriggs A.H. & Sinclair B.J. (eds) Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Vol. 1. Introductory Chapters and Keys to Diptera Families: 89–133. Suricata 4, Pretoria.
Dorff N., Borkent A., Curler G. & Madriz R.I. 2022. A new species of hyporheic Corethrella Coquillett from North America (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Journal of Natural History 56 (13–16): 1007–1028. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2022.2090868
Dupérré N. 2020. Old and new challenges in taxonomy: what are taxonomists up against? Megataxa 1 (1): 59–62. https://doi.org/10.11646/megataxa.1.1.12
Dyar H.G. 1926. Note on Corethrella appendiculata Grabham (Diptera, Culicidae). Insecutor Inscitiae Menstruus 14: 150.
Dyar H.G. 1928. A new Corethrella from Panama (Diptera: Culicidae). Entomological News 39: 79–80.
Dyar H.G. & Shannon R.C. 1924. The American Chaoborinae (Diptera, Culicidae). Insecutor Inscitiae Menstruus 12: 201–216.
Edwards F.W. 1930. Notes on exotic Chaoborinae, with descriptions of new species (Diptera, Culicidae). Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10: 528–540. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933008673243
Fitzgerald J. & Livdahl T.P. 2019. Vertical habitat stratification in sympatric and allopatric populations of Aedes hendersoni and Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 56 (2): 311–319. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjy107
Förster M., Beutel R.G. & Schneeberg K. 2016. Catching prey with the antennae — the larval head of Corethrella appendiculata (Diptera: Corethrellidae). Arthropod Structure & Development 45: 594–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asd.2016.09.003
Giribet G. 2015. Morphology should not be forgotten in the era of genomics — a phylogenetic perspective. Zoologischer Anzeiger – A Journal of Comparative Zoology 256: 96–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2015.01.003
Grabham. 1906. A new Corethrella from Jamaica. Entomological News 17: 343–345.
Grafe T.U., Ahmad Sah H.H., Ahmad N., Borkent A., Meuche I. & Konopik O. 2018. Studying the sensory ecology of frog-biting midges (Corethrellidae: Diptera) and their frog hosts using ecological interaction networks. Journal of Zoology 307 (1): 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12612
Harbach R.E. & Knight K.L. 1980. Taxonomists’ Glossary of Mosquito Anatomy. Plexus Publishing, Marlton, NJ.
Hołyński R.B. 2010. Taxonomy and the mediocrity of DNA barcoding – some remarks on Packer et al. 2009: DNA barcoding and the mediocrity of morphology. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 68 (1): 143–150. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.68.e31719
Lane J. 1939a. Notes on non hematophagous Culicidae. Boletim Biológico, Clube Zoológico do Brasil 4: 99–113.
Lane J. 1939b. Non-hematophagous Culicidae. (second paper). Boletim Biologico, Clube Zoologico do Brasil 4: 386–393.
Lane J. 1942. Dixinae e Chaoborinae. Revisão das espécies neotrópicas (Diptera, Culicidae). Revista de Entomologia 13: 81–148.
Lane J. 1943. Aditamento e corrigenda ao meu trabalho sobre Dixinae e Chaoborinae (Dipt.). Revista de Entomologia 14: 162–166.
Lane J. 1953. Neotropical Culicidae. Volume I. University of São Paulo, São Paulo.
Lane J. & Aitken T.H.G. 1956. Chaoborinae from Trinidad, B.W.I. (Diptera, Culicidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 49: 530–543. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/49.6.530
Lane J. & Cerqueira N.L. 1958. Amazonian Chaoborinae (Diptera, Culicidae). Studia Entomologia 1: 561–566.
Legett H.D., Baranov V.A. & Bernal X.E. 2018. Seasonal variation in abundance and diversity of eavesdropping frog-biting midges (Diptera, Corethrellidae) in a Neotropical rainforest. Ecological Entomology 43: 226–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12492
Matheson R. 1944. Handbook of the Mosquitoes of North America. 2nd edition. Comstock Publishing Co., Inc., Ithaca, NY.
McKeever S. 1985a. Morphology of the internal reproductive system of female Corethrella (Diptera: Chaoboridae). International Journal of Entomology 27: 185–196.
McKeever S. 1985b. Morphology of the male reproductive system of Corethrella (Diptera: Chaoboridae). International Journal of Entomology 27: 354–363.
McKeever S. 1986. Mouthparts of the four North American Corethrella species (Diptera: Chaoboridae), with detailed study of C. appendiculata. Journal of Medical Entomology 23: 502–512. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/23.5.502
McKeever S. 1988. A new species of Mexican Corethrella (Diptera: Chaoboridae) and a description of a new antennal sensillum. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 81: 400–402. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/81.3.400
McKeever S. & French F.E. 1991. Corethrella (Diptera: Corethrellidae) of North America north of Mexico: distribution and morphology of immature stages. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 84: 522–530. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/84.5.522
Montell C. & Zwiebel L.J. 2016. Chapter ten. Mosquito sensory systems. In: Raikhel A.S. (ed.) Advances in Insect Physiology: 293–328. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA.
Oliveira U., Soares-Filho B.S., Paglia A.P., Brescovit A.D., de Carvalho C.J.B., Silva D.P., Rezende D.T., Leite F.S.F., Batista J.A.N, Barbosa J.P.P.P, Stehmann J.R., Ascher J.S., de Vasconcelos M.F., de Marco P., Löwenberg-Neto P., Ferro V.G. & Santos A.J. 2017. Biodiversity conservation gaps in the Brazilian protected areas. Scientific Reports 7 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-08707-2
Packer L., Gibbs J., Sheffield C. & Hanner R. 2009. DNA barcoding and the mediocrity of morphology. Molecular Ecology Resources 9: 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02631.x
Shannon R.C. & Del Ponte E. 1928. Los culicidos en la Argentina. Revista del Instituto bacteriologico 5: 29–147.
de Silva P., Jaramillo C. & Bernal X.E. 2014. Feeding site selection by frog-biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) on anuran hosts. Journal of Insect Behavior 27: 302–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9428-y
Stone A. 1968. The genus Corethrella in the United States (Diptera: Chaoboridae). Florida Entomologist 51: 183–186. https://doi.org/10.2307/3493552
Tofilski A. 2018. DKey software for editing and browsing dichotomous keys. ZooKeys 735: 131–140. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.735.21412
Toledo L.F., Ruggeri J., Campos L.L.F., Martins M., Neckel-Oliveira S. & Breviglieri C.P.B. 2021. Midges not only sucks, but may carry lethal pathogens to wild amphibians. Biotropica 53 (3): 722–725. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12928
Upton M.S. & Mantle B.L. 2010. Methods for Collecting, Preserving and Studying Insects and Other Terrestrial Arthropods. Australian Entomological Society, Canberra.
Vargas L. 1946. Corethrella (Corethrella) laneana n. sp. (Diptera. Culicidae), procedente de Monterrey, N.L. Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales 13: 57–62.
Vargas L. 1952. Dos nuevas especies mexicanas de Corethrella (Diptera: Culicidae). Revista de la Sociedad mexicana de Historia natural 13: 57–62.
Virgo J. & Eltz T. 2022. Feeding site specificity in frog-biting midges (Corethrellidae). Preprint (version 1) available at Research Square [dated 31 May 2022]. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1646254/v1
Virgo J., Ufermann L., Lampert K.P. & Eltz T. 2021. More than meets the eye: decrypting diversity reveals hidden interaction specificity between frogs and frog-biting midges. Ecological Entomology 47 (1): 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13095
Copyright (c) 2023 André P. Amaral, Rodolfo Mariano, Luiz Carlos Pinho
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons Copyright Notices
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are NOT ALLOWED TO post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to taxonomic issues.
