CERATOPOGONIDAE (BITING MIDGES, PURRUJAS)

BORKENT A; SPINELLI GR; GROGAN WL

MANUAL OF CENTRAL AMERICAN DIPTERA. VOLUME 1

NRC Research Press

Lugar: Ontario; Año: 2009; p. 407 - 435

There are aproximately 400 species of Ceratopogonidae recorded from Central America and tropical Mexico (including some which are known only north and south of the region and therefore assumed to occur there) but there are many more awaiting description, especially in the genera Forcipomyia, Atrichopogon, Dasyhelea, Culicoides and Stilobezzia. Species of the family may be found at all altitudes and in virtually every habitat where there is even a little moisture. The following key includes genera either known from or suspected of being in Central America and tropical Mexico and, for the first time for any region, includes males of all genera. This key is intended to work for both alcohol and slide mounted material. We have indicated in bold type those character states that are best seen with a compound microscope (i.e. with slide mounted material), although with skill and patience many of these character states may also be observed in alcohol specimens. Some wing veins may be difficult to see in some taxa; for alcohol specimens, tilting the wing may help to see faint wing veins and with slide material, phase contrast microscopy provides the best resolution. When the two claws at the end of a leg are the same size, they are referred to as being equal; conversely when they differ in size they are called unequal. The costal ratio is the length of the costa from the wing base (measured from the arculus), divided by the total wing length.