The subgenus Eusimulium (Diptera: Simuliidae: Simulium) in Britain

Abstract

In northwest and western Europe the blackfly subgenus Eusimulium (Diptera: Simuliidae: Simulium) is represented by four species of which three are widely distributed and one, Simulium petricolum, was previously thought to be largely restricted to the Mediterranean region. Simulium petricolum is reported from southern England, and is shown to be distinct from the other Eusimulium species in terms of mitochondrial DNA sequence (COI DNA barcode), but morphologically and cytotaxonomically indistinguishable from Mediterranean S. petricolum, with the exception of minor differences in larval pigmentation. Simulium petricolum shows a distinctive ecology in Britain and is probably much more widely distributed in Europe than is currently appreciated.

Keywords:

• Simulium
• Eusimulium
• Simuliidae
• taxonomy
• cytotaxonomy
• DNA barcoding

Acknowledgements

We are pleased to express our gratitude to Roger Crosskey and Jon Bass for valuable scientific discussion and contextualisation. We are also grateful to Jon Bass for the provision of verified material. We would like to thank Stephanie Hunter and Tim Goodall for technical assistance.