An Annotated List of and Keys to the Immature Black Flies of Alberta (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Abstract

Fifty-one species or species complexes of black flies are recorded from Alberta representing the following genera: Cnephia Enderlein (1), Ectemnia Enderlein (2), Gymnopais Stone (1), Mayacnephia Wygodzinsky and Coscarón (1), Metacnephia Crosskey (3), Prosimulium Roubaud (12), Simulium Latreille (29), Stegopterna Enderlein (1), and Twinnia Stone and Jamnback (1). An annotated list summarizes what is known about the bionomics and distribution of each species in the province, including notes on their medical and veterinary importance, where applicable. Illustrated keys to the larvae and pupae of Alberta genera and species are provided. Also included in the keys are 3 species that may occur in the province (one of these in the genus Greniera Doby and David), but whose presence has yet to be verified. A review of some structural characters used for the identification of immature stages of black flies is given. Notes on nomenclature of some characters are also provided. A total of 188 figures, including detailed distribution maps for each species in Alberta, are given.

Utility of the Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase II Gene for Resolving Relationships among Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae)

“…The current classification of black flies recognizes "species groups" within subgenera without inferring relationships among those groups (Crosskey and Howard, 1997). Currie (1988) provides an alternative classification at the generic level.…”

“…Sohn et al (1975) and Teshima (1972), using DNA:DNA hybridization, found that Cnephia was as similar to some Simulium as species included in Simulium were to each other. Both Currie (1988), based on morphological analysis, and Moulton (2000), using molecular data, place Cnephia in Simuliini. Our analysis of the CO-II gene also provided support for inclusion of Cnephia basally in the Simuliini clade.…”

The cocoon‐spinning behaviour ofAustrosimulium australense(Diptera: Simuliidae) with a discussion of phylogenetic implications

“…All character states were run unordered and equally weighted. Following Currie (1988), Prosimulium was used as the outgroup. As in Stuart & Hunter (1998b), the ingroup included one representative species from each genus and two from Simulium: Cnephia dacotensis, Stegopterna mutata, Simulium rostratum, Simulium (Eusimulium) euryadminiculum, Ectemnia invenusta, and Austrosimulium australense.…”

“…Of the 25 extant black fly genera recognised as valid by Crosskey & Howard (1997) and Crosskey (1999), only six build well-formed cocoons. Sac-shaped cocoons are found in all the basal members of the group and are therefore considered pleisiomorphic within the tribe Simuliini (sensu Currie 1988). Although well-formed cocoons have been considered a homologous feature, it is not known whether these cocoons are built in a homologous manner.…”

“…In this paper, I describe the entire cocoon-spinning behaviour of Austrosimulium and add further characteristics to the existing behavioural phylogeny (Stuart & Hunter 1998a,b), which is congruent with morphological and cytological data, to determine the most parsimonious placement of the genus within the Simuliidae. Based on Currie (1988), the remaining taxa used in this study are from two tribes, the Simuliini (Stegopterna, Cnephia, Ectemnia, and Simulium) and the Prosimuliini (Prosimulium). This study will also specify the extent of behavioural similarity in three genera (Austrosimulium, Ectemnia, and Simulium) that build well-formed cocoons.…”