“Jejenes” (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Nahuel Huapi National Park, Patagonia, Argentina: Preliminary results

HERNÁNDEZ, L, F MONTES DE OCA, M PENN, J MASSAFERRO , A GARRÉ & SJ. BROOKS *

REVISTA DE LA SOCIEDAD ENTOMOLóGICA ARGENTINA

SOCIEDAD ENTOMOLÓGICA ARGENTINA

Año: 2009 vol. 68 p. 193 - 200

0373-5680

ABSTRACT. The Simuliidae is a family of Diptera with approximately 2072 described species worldwide. The females of the majority of the species feed  from vertebrates’ blood, which makes  them a  significant plague  that affects both men as well as cattle, birds, and other vertebrates. The objective of  this paper  is  to create an  inventory of Simuliidae and  to  reveal certain aspects of the biology and distribution of this family of aquatic insects in the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Moreover, information on the zoogeography of Simuliidae in Patagonia is provided. Five genera, 3 subgenera and 32 species Simuliidae  are  recorded  from Patagonia: Cnesia  (three  spp.), Cnesiamima (one  sp.),  Gigantodax  (14  spp.),  Paraustrosimulium  (one  sp.),  Simulium (Ectemnaspis) (one sp.), S. (Psaroniocompsa) (one sp.) and S. (Pternaspatha) (11 spp.), At present, we have collected all five genera, one subgenus of Simulium (Pternaspatha), and 19 species of Simuliidae in the park, which amounts to 57% of the Simuliidae fauna in this area. Puerto Blest, a characteristic area of the High-Andean phytogeographical province (humid forest), showed the highest diversity of Simuliidae.