Description of three unusual species of the black fly subgenus Simulium (Ectemnaspis) from the Andes of Colombia (Diptera, Simuliidae). American Museum novitates ; no. 2736

Abstract

"Three new species of the genus Simulium - S. bicornutum, S. furcillatum, and S. simplex - collected near and above 3000 m. in the Andes of Colombia are described. These three species agree closely in their color pattern and overall structure with the species of the subgenus Simulium (Ectemnaspis) in which they are included. The three Colombian species differ from all other known members of the subgenus by the modified gills of their pupae. In the species of Simulium (Ectemnaspis) previously described, pupal gills consist of bundles of simple filiform elements. In one of the new species (S. bicornutum) the gills are halfmoon-shaped; in the second (S. furcillatum) the gills are still vaguely halfmoon-shaped, but the upper arm of each gill bears three filiform appendages. In the third species (S. simplex) the gills consist of five tubular structures arising at different levels from a common stalk"--P. [1].