Cladistic analysis of Simulium (Trichodagmia) and Simulium (Thyrsopelma) (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Abstract

A cladistic analysis of Simulium (Trichodagmia) sensu Crosskey and Howard, using 34 morphological characters of larvae (6 characters), pupa (5) and adults (23), yields nine most parsimonious trees under equal weights (length 101 steps CI 0.49 RI 0.73). Successive weighting based on the maximal rescaled consistency index preferred one of the nine (31.37 steps CI 0.62 RI 0.87 total fitcon3 = 235.8), which was also one of two trees found under implicit weights with concavity values of 3-6. The cladogram justifies the recognition of two subgenera. Simulium (Tri chodagmia) sensu stricto (containing S. muiscorum, sumapazense, S. wygodzinskyorum, S. nigrimanum, S. chal cocoma, S. huairayacu and S. lahillei) is supported by the branchial tip sclerotization and the presence of cibarial teeth, larval body tegument covered with lanceolate hairs, female with simple claw, and gonapophysis size. Simulium (Thyrsopelma) (containing S. scutistriatum, S. hirtipupa, S. orbitale, S. guianense, S. perplexum and S. itaunense) is supported by the hypostomial teeth.

A new black fly species from Brazil, closely related to Simulium guianense Wise (Diptera, Simuliidae), revealed by morphology and DNA barcoding

“…This situation occurs because the validity of the subgenus Thyrsopelma Enderlein is debated (e.g. Miranda-Esquivel & Coscarón 2001, Shelley et al 1997. Thyrsopelma is considered synonymous with Trichodagmia Enderlein in the inventory of world black flies by Adler & Crosskey (2009).…”

New specific synonymies and taxonomic notes on Neotropical blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae)

“…Coscarón (1987) placed S. chalcocoma in the lahillei species group of the subgenus Grenieriella Enderlein. Coscarón (1987, 1991 and Miranda-Esquivel & Coscarón (2001) regarded Grenieriella, Thyrsopelma, and Trichodagmia as valid subgenera, whereas other authorities (Py-Daniel & Moreira Sampaio, 1995) considered them as genera. We follow Crosskey & Howard's (1997 classification system in which Grenieriella and Thyrsopelma are treated as junior synonyms of Trichodagmia.…”