Chromosomal and morphological taxonomy of larvae of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand

Abstract

The larvae of 12 species of Simulium in the subgenus Gomphostilbia in Thailand, including one species newly recorded from Thailand (Simulium novemarticulatum) and four undescribed species, were analyzed chromosomally. All larvae had a chromosomal complement of n = 3. Positions of landmarks in the IIS arm, specifically the positions of the bulge and the ring of Balbiani, permitted the identification of most species, including some that were morphologically indistinguishable. Species with the IIS landmarks in similar positions differed in larval morphology. The combination of chromosomal landmarks in the IIS arm and selected structural features, especially the form of the cuticular setae on the larval abdomen and the configuration of the postgenal cleft and gill histoblast, permitted accurate identification of all 12 species. The larva and pupa of S. novemarticulatum are characterized for the first time.

DNA barcoding of tropical black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand

“…Specimens were identified morphologically using the keys and descriptions of Takaoka & Suzuki (1984), Takaoka & Davies (1995), Takaoka & Choochote (2004), Jitklang et al (2008), Tangkawanit et al (2009b), and Takaoka & Srisuka (2011). Species known to consist of cytoforms and for which standard polytene chromosome maps are available were examined chromosomally (Kuvangkadilok et al 2003Phasuk et al 2005;Jitklang et al 2008;Tangkawanit et al 2009a;Pramual & Wongpakam 2011Pramual & Kuvangkadilok 2012). We used the procedure of Pramual et al (2005Pramual et al ( , 2011b to process larval samples.…”

“…Thus far, 88 species are known in Thailand (H. Takaoka & W. Choochote 2004;unpublished data), all in the following six subgenera of the genus Simulium Latreille: Asiosimulium Takaoka and Choochote, Daviesellum Takaoka and Adler, Gomphostilbia Enderlein, Montisimulium Rubtsov, Nevermannia Enderlein, and Simulium s. s. Among these subgenera, Simulium is the most diverse, with 43 species in Thailand. Other aspects of black flies in Thailand also have been investigated, including cytogenetics (Kuvangkadilok et al 1999Phasuk et al 2005;Jitklang et al 2008;Tangkawanit et al 2009a;Pramual & Wongpakam 2011Pramual & Kuvangkadilok 2012), population genetics and phylogeography (Pramual et al 2005(Pramual et al , 2011bPramual & Kuvangkadilok 2012;Pramual & Wongpakam 2013), and ecology (Pramual & Kuvangkadilok 2009;Pramual & Wongpakam 2010).…”

Phylogenetic relationships among the black fly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Thailand based on multiple gene sequences

“…Species can be very difficult to discriminate morphologically (Crosskey 1981) so considerable effort has been devoted to the resolution of simuliid taxonomy by cytotaxonomic studies of the polytene chromosomes of larval salivary glands (Vajime and Dunbar 1975;Rothfels 1979;Bedo 1977Bedo , 1979Boakye 1993;Procunier and Muro 1993;Kuvangkadilok et al 1998Kuvangkadilok et al , 1999aKuvangkadilok et al , b, 2003Kuvangkadilok et al , 2008Phasuk et al 2005;Jitklang et al 2008). Only a few broad cladistic phylogenetic studies of the family are available.…”

Agricultural land use and black fly (Diptera, Simuliidae) species richness and species assemblages in tropical streams, Northeastern Thailand

“…However, a rapid growth in taxonomic knowledge of black fly, both morphological (e.g. Takaoka & Choochote, 2004) and cytological in Thailand (Phasuk et al, 2005;Kuvangkadilok et al, 2008;Tangkawanit et al, 2009), now allows us to gain an insight into black fly ecology in this region.…”