Culicoides jiangchengensis, a new species of the subgenus Sinocoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) based on integrative taxonomy from China

Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are important in both medicine and veterinary medicine because their blood-feeding regime enable them to transmit a variety of pathogens. In this study, the morphological characteristics of the new species of Culicoides (Sinocoides) jiangchengensis Wang et Liu sp. nov are described and compared with the other species of female Culicoides in the subgenus Sinocoides. Three morphological characteristics of C. jiangchengensis, such as without sensory pit in 3(rd) palpus segment, sensilla coeloconica on flagellomeres 1,9-13, and m(1) and m(2) cell of the wings with pale spots, were different from the other nine species of culicoides in subgenus Sinocoides. Genetically, C. jiangchengensis are most closely related to C. malipoensis, but they were located in different branches and the minimum interspecific distance between them was 12.6%. In addition, a checklist of 10 species in the subgenus Sinocoides Chu, 1983 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) in China, including the new species C. jiangchengensis Wang et Liu sp. nov., is provided, and an updated key to species of the subgenus Sinocoides Chu, 1983 was presented.

Automated summary

In this study, a new species of Culicoides (Sinocoides) jiangchengensis Wang et Liu sp. nov is described and compared with other species in the subgenus Sinocoides. The morphological characteristics and genetic relationship of C. jiangchengensis are discussed, and a checklist of 10 species in the subgenus Sinocoides in China is provided, along with an updated key for species identification.