Description and inferred speciation of two new species of Simulium (Simulium) (Diptera:Simuliidae) from Tioman Island, Malaysia

Abstract

Two new species of black flies, Simulium(Simulium) sp. 1 and S.(S.) sp.2, are described on the basis of adult, pupal and larval specimens collected from Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia, and are placed in the tuberosum species-group within the subgenus Simulium(Simulium) Latreille. Both S.(S.)sp. 1 and S. (S.) sp. 2, are characterized by one of the two unusual characteristics within the species-group, i.e., the female tarsal claw with a minute subbasal projection, and the pupal thoracic integument with a pit-like organ near the base of each gill. Simulium(S.) sp. 2 is also striking in having a dichoptic male head, a characteristic rarely recorded in the family Simuliidae. The speciation of both new species on Tioman Island in two lines of the tuberosum species-group is inferred.