BITING MIDGES — WIRTH AND BLANTON 447 



posts tigmatic spots in cell R5 small and well separated, the posterior 

 one well proximad of the anterior one, distal pale spot in cell R5 small 

 and transverse; two pale spots in cell Mi and two in the apex of anal 

 cell; only one pale spot in distal part of cell M2, a pale spot in cell 

 M4, one lying behind medial fork, and one lying in front of medio- 

 cubital fork. Macrotrichia numerous on distal half of wing, in some 

 specimens extending proximad in a double row to base of cell M and 

 numerous in anal cell; costa extending to 0.60-0.62 (n = 2) of distance 

 to wing tip. Halter dull yellowish, the base of the knob brownish. 



Abdomen. — Brownish black; cerci yellowish. Spermathecae two, 

 ovoid, unequal, measuring 0.053 by 0.038 and 0.036 by 0.026 mm., 

 the bases of the ducts not sclerotized. 



Male: Unknown. 



Distribution: Venezuela; Panama; Trinidad (St. Patrick Estate). 



Panama records: 



BocAS DEL ToRO PROVINCE: Almirante. 



Discussion: The location of the small pale spot, not over the 

 r-m crossvein, but entirely distad of it in cell R5, is unique and will 

 readily distinguish mirsae. The wing pattern is similar to that of 

 debilipalpis Lutz, but that species has only one pale distal spot in the 

 anal cell; the wing of castillae Fox is also similar but has the apex of 

 vein Ml pale margined and two pale spots in the distal part of cell M2. 

 Culicoides mirsae is quite rare, our series consisting of only three 

 females from Almirante, taken in light traps in November, December 

 and January, and two females from Trinidad (St. Patrick Estate, 

 Arima), Dec. 24, 31, 1954, Aitken and Downs, collectors, in tree 

 station. 



78. Culicoides aureus Ortiz 



Figure 81 



Culicoides aureus Ortiz, 1951, Rev. Sanid. Asist. Soc, vol. 16, p. 585 (male; San 

 Felipe, Yaracuy, Venezuela; fig. wing, palpus, mesonotum, genitalia). — 

 Fox, 1955, Journ. Agr. Univ. Puerto Rico, vol. 39, p. 228 (synonym, miya- 

 motoi Wirth and Blanton) . 



Culicoides miyamotoi Wirth and Blanton, 1953, Journ. Parasit., vol. 39, p. 231 

 (male, female; Panama; fig. wing, mesonotum, palpus, male genitalia). 



Female: Length of wing 0.89 (0.86-0.92 n=3) mm. 



Head. — Eyes narrowly separated, bare. Antenna with flagellar seg- 

 ments in proportion of 17:14:15:16:16:15:16:17:16:16:18:19:27, anten- 

 nal ratio 0.76; distal sensory tufts present on segments in, vii-x. 

 Palpal segments in proportion of 11:19:24:8:9, third segment moder- 

 ately swollen, 2.1 (1.8-2.5, n = 3) times as long as greatest breadth, 

 with a large, deep sensory pit opening by a small pore. Mandible 

 with 18 (n = 3) teeth. 



