1.A new species of black fly, formerly cytoform C of the Simulium angulistylum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae), from a high mountain in northeastern Thailand
Pramual, P. ; Jomkumsing, P. ; Thongyan, T. ; Wongpakam, K. ; Takaoka, H.
Tropical Biomedicine 2022;39(No.2):281-290
Cytoform C, one of three cytoforms in the Simulium angulistylum Takaoka & Davies complex from
a high mountain in northeastern Thailand was morphologically and molecularly investigated. All
known life stages (larva, pupa, adult male and female except egg) were morphologically similar to, but
distinguishable from S. angulistylum s. str. and S. isanense Takaoka, Srisuka & Saeung in the adults by
the relative length of the fore and hind basitarsi and relative length of the tooth to the claw. It is also
morphologically distinct from other species of the S. epistum species-group. Here, it is formally described
as a new species, S. prayooki. Molecular genetic data based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase
subunit I (COI) also supported the morphological similarity between the new species and the two related
known species (S. angulistylum s. str. and S. isanense) as phylogenetic analysis retrieved them all from
a single clade and with a low level of interspecific genetic divergence (1.74%). This might possibly have
resulted from incomplete lineage sorting as they are likely to share a recent common ancestor. Despite
limitation of molecular genetic differentiation, the new species was distinctly different from two other
cytoforms of S. angulistylum complex based on polytene chromosome banding patterns and ecology
of the immature stages. Thus, this study highlights the necessity of using an integrated approach for
fully understanding black fly biodiversity.
2.Description of the male of Simulium triglobus Takaoka & Kuvangkadilok (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Thailand
Pramual, P. ; Jomkumsing, P. ; Tangkawanit, U. ; Wongpakam, K. ; Bunchom, N. ; Takaoka, H.
Tropical Biomedicine 2022;39(No.1):60-65
Simulium triglobus Takaoka & Kuvangkadilok from Thailand, in the Simulium (Simulium)
multistriatum species-group, is unique among species in the family Simuliidae in having the
female terminalia with three spermathecae (rather than one spermatheca). This species
was described from Nan province, northern Thailand based on larvae, pupae and females
but its male has remained unknown. In this study, the male of S. triglobus is described for the
first time based on adult males reared from pupae collected from the type locality. The most
distinctive characteristic of the male of S. triglobus is the shape of the ventral plate, which is
hexagonal when viewed ventrally. No other members of S. multistriatum species group known
thus far have such a unique ventral plate. In addition, the number of upper-eye (large)
facets and color patterns of the legs can be used to differentiate this species in the male
from other members of the S. multistriatum species-group. Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase
I sequences enabled association of adult male specimens of S. triglobus with previously
known life stages. Phylogenetic analysis based on these sequences revealed that specimens
of S. triglobus formed a strongly supported monophyletic clade, being genetically distinct
from other members of S. multistriatum species-group in Thailand.