First Description of the Pupa of the Endemic Biting Midge Forcipomyia whitcombei Boorman, 1989 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Southern Oman

Document Type : Short communication, English

Authors

1 Center for Environmental Studies and Research (CESAR), Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al-Khoud 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

2 Ministery of Agriculture, Sultan Qaboos University

10.22034/jesi.2026.373933.1868

Abstract

Forcipomyia whitcombei Boorman, 1989 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) is a biting midge known only from the monsoon season-affected Dhofar region of southern Oman. Although the adult stage has been described previously, the immature stages have remained unknown for more than 35 years. In this study, the pupa is described for the first time from specimens collected in several humid microhabitats and reared to adults to confirm their identity. The pupa is readily recognized by its large smooth dorsal apotome and short, laterally directed respiratory organs. The distinctive number and distribution pattern of pupal tubercles, particularly on the cephalothorax and abdominal tergites, constitute important diagnostic features that readily distinguish pupae of F. whitcombei from related sympatric species of Forcipomyia. Molecular identification based on the ITS1 region was incorporated to genetically confirm the taxonomic identity of the pupae, discriminate them from morphologically similar species within the group, and complement the morphological characterization. The description presented here provides useful morphological characters for identifying the immature stages of the species and may facilitate their recognition in future field and laboratory studies.

Graphical Abstract

First Description of the Pupa of the Endemic Biting Midge Forcipomyia whitcombei Boorman, 1989 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) from Southern Oman

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [Persian]

نخستین توصیف شفیره پشه گزنده بومی Forcipomyia whitcombei Boorman, 1989 (ِDip., Ceratopogonidae) از جنوب عمان

Authors [Persian]

  • حامد النبادی 1
  • احمد السیادری 1
  • Ali Ali 2
  • ahmad ahmad
  • Khalifa k
  • Mohammad M
  • Fatema F
  • HOSAM H
  • A A
1
2
Abstract [Persian]

Forcipomyia whitcombei Boorman, 1989 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) یک پشه گزنده است که فقط در منطقه ظفار در جنوب عمان که تحت تأثیر فصل باران‌های موسمی قرار دارد، شناخته شده است. اگرچه مرحله بالغ قبلاً شرح توصیف شده است، مراحل نابالغ بیش از 35 سال ناشناخته مانده است. در این مطالعه، شفیره برای اولین بار از نمونه‌های جمع‌آوری‌شده در چندین ریززیستگاه مرطوب و پرورش‌یافته تا بلوغ برای تأیید هویت آنها توصیف می‌شود. شفیره به راحتی توسط آپوتوم پشتی صاف و بزرگ و اندام‌های تنفسی کوتاه و جانبی خود قابل تشخیص است. تعداد و الگوی توزیع متمایز برآمدگی‌های شفیرگی، به ویژه روی سفالوتوراکس و ترژیت‌های شکمی، ویژگی‌های تشخیصی مهمی را تشکیل می‌دهند که به راحتی شفیره‌های F. whitcombei را از گونه‌های همبوم مرتبط Forcipomyia متمایز می‌کنند. شناسایی مولکولی بر اساس ناحیه ITS1 برای تأیید ژنتیکی هویت تاکسونومیک شفیره‌ها، تمایز آنها از گونه‌های مشابه از نظر ریخت‌شناسی در داخل گروه و تکمیل توصیف ریخت‌شناسی گنجانده شد. شرح ارائه شده در اینجا، ویژگی‌های ریخت‌شناسی مفیدی را برای شناسایی مراحل نابالغ گونه ارائه می‌دهد و ممکن است تشخیص آنها را در مطالعات میدانی و آزمایشگاهی آینده تسهیل کند.

Keywords [Persian]

  • بومی
  • Lasiohelea
  • سفالوتوراکس
  • لوب تناسلی
  • پشه‌ریز
  • پوسته لاروی

© 2026 by Author(s), Published by the Entomological Society of Iran

This Work is Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License.

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