Boletín de la Sociedad Zoológica del Uruguay, 2025
Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
ISSN 2393-6940
https://journal.szu.org.uy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26462/34.2.1
ABSTRACT
We present an annotated check list of Ceratopogonidae
species found in Uruguay. Data of identified species was
gathered from available literature, captures made by the
authors, and observation of specimens deposited in the
Entomology Collection of Facultad de Ciencias, Uruguay.
Three subfamilies are known in the country:
Leptoconopinae, Forcipomyiinae and Ceratopogoninae,
with a total of 17 genera and 41 species. The predatory
species Stilobezzia fiebrigi Kieffer is recorded for the first
time in Uruguay.
Key words: Stilobezzia fiebrigi, Culicoides,
Leptoconops, Forcipomyia.
Lista de especies de Ceratopogonidae (Insecta:
Diptera) de Uruguay. Se presenta la lista de especies de
la Familia Ceratopogonidae registradas en Uruguay, en
base a especímenes depositados en la Colección
Entomológica de la Facultad de Ciencias de Uruguay,
colectas realizadas por los autores, y revisión
bibliográfica. Se registran 41 especies de
Ceratopogonidae pertenecientes a 17 géneros y tres
subfamilias: Leptoconopinae, Forcipomyiinae y
Ceratopogoninae. La especie depredadora Stilobezzia
fiebrigi Kieffer se registra por primera vez para el país.
Stilobezzia fiebrigi, Culicoides,
Leptoconops, Forcipomyia.
RESUMEN
Palabras clave:
INTRODUCTION
Worldwide, the Family Ceratopogonidae has 6276
described species in 112 genera, and 303 fossil
species in 23 fossil genera (Borkent and Dominiak,
2020; Borkent, Dominiak and Díaz, 2022). In the
Neotropical region, Borkent and Spinelli (2007) listed
1093 ceratopogonid species in 53 genera (missing one
species, Atrichopogon chilensis Ingram and Macfie),
and subsequently a total of 1301 species in 55 genera
are described or recorded in the Neotropical fauna
(Spinelli, Ronderos, Ayala and Díaz, 2023). Adults are
small or very small, ranging 0.6-7mm in size. The
feeding habits of adults are very diverse, and they can
be predators, flower feeding on nectar, or
hematophagous, as in the case of females of the
genera Culicoides Latreille, Leptoconops Skuse and
the subgenus Lasiohelea Kieffer of Forcipomyia
Meigen (Borkent and Spinelli, 2007). Preimaginal
states occupy a wide variety of semiaquatic and
aquatic habitats, such as phytotelmata, rivers and
lakes, and larvae can be predators or detritivores
(Borkent and Spinelli, 2007).
The objective of this work is to provide a list of all the
ceratopogonid species recorded in Uruguay from year
1929 to date, with additional species records.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We reviewed literature records, and examined
material from the Entomological Collection at Facultad
de Ciencias, Uruguay (FCE) and samples collected by
the authors. The specimens belonging to the FCE
collection are preserved in ethanol 70º, material in
authors' collection (BC) are slide mounted according to
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
CHECKLIST OF CERATOPOGONIDAE (INSECTA: DIPTERA) FROM URUGUAY
1 2 3
Bruno Canneva , María Martínez , Gustavo R. Spinelli
1Independent Researcher, Montevideo, Uruguay.
2Universidad de la República, Facultad de Ciencias, Sección Entomología, Montevideo, Uruguay.
3Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet", ILPLA - CONICET, Universidad Nacional de la Plata, UNLP,
División Entomología, Museo de La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Corresponding author: bcanneva@gmail.com
Fecha de recepción: 28 de febrero de 2024
Fecha de aceptación: 25 de agosto de 2024
.
2
CANNEVA et al.
Wirth and Marston (1968). Supraspecific taxonomical
arrangement within the family follows Borkent and
Dominiak (2020). Species geographical distribution is
alphabetically ordered in accordance with Borkent and
Spinelli (2007).
RESULTS
The Ceratopogonidae fauna recorded in Uruguay
presents 41 species, 17 genera and three subfamilies.
Distribution by department appears in Table 1. List of
Ceratopogonidae species in Uruguay is as follows.
Family Ceratopogonidae
Subfamily Leptoconopinae Noè, 1907: 143.
Genus Leptoconops Skuse, 1889: 288.
Subgenus L. (Leptoconops) Skuse, 1889: 288.
Leptoconops brasiliensis (Lutz, 1913): 66
(Tersesthes).
Records in Uruguay. Gezuele and Franca-Rodríguez
(1972) (as Gezuelo and Franca-Rodríguez, 1972) as
Tersesthes brasiliensis Lutz, 1913.
Distribution. Brazil, Uruguay (Río Negro).
Leptoconops casali Cavalieri and Chiossone, 1966:
45.
Records in Uruguay. Chiossone (1969).
Material examined. SAN JOSÉ, Playa Pascual, 03-
XII-2015, human baited manual capture, Canneva leg.,
det., 2♀, BC117-118. Same locality, 10-XII-2015,
human bait, 3♀, BC119-121.
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Colonia, San José).
Subfamily Forcipomyiinae Lenz, 1934: 96.
Tribe Dasyheleini Lenz, 1934: 96.
Genus Dasyhelea Kieffer, 1911: 5.
Dasyhelea necrophila Spinelli and Rodríguez, 1999:
59.
Records in Uruguay. Martínez, Canneva and
Ronderos (2010) collected eggs in Canelones, Flores,
Florida, Maldonado, Montevideo. Martínez, Willat,
Guerrero and Emmerich (2016) collected eggs, larvae,
pupae, pupal exuviae and/or adults, between the years
1997-2009, in all 19 departments of the country, FCE-
Dip 0249-0281.
Distribution. Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas,
Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores,
Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandú,
Río Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San José, Soriano,
Tacuarembó, Treinta y Tres).
Tribe Forcipomyiini Lenz, 1934: 96.
Genus Atrichopogon Kieffer, 1906: 53.
Subgenus A. (Lophomyidium) Cordero, 1929: 94.
Atrichopogon delpontei Cavalieri and Chiossone,
1972: 121.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Wirth (1993).
Material Examined. Table 2 shows the material
recorded in nine departments of the country, FCE-Dip
0282-0306.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay (Artigas,
Durazno, Florida, Montevideo, Río Negro, Rivera,
Rocha, Salto, Soriano).
Atrichopogon uruguayensis (Cordero, 1929): 95
(Lophomyidium).
Records in Uruguay. Cordero (1929) as
Lophomyidium uruguayense Cordero. Atrichopogon
uruguayensis (Cordero) new name according to Wirth
(1994).
Material examined. ARTIGAS, Bella Unión, Canneva
det., 2♂, BC-137,143.
Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay (Artigas,
Tacuarembó).
Genus Forcipomyia Meigen, 1818: 73.
Subgenus F. (Forcipomyia) Meigen, 1818: 73.
Species Group genualis
Forcipomyia taragui Marino, Spinelli and Cazorla,
2002: 7.
Records in Uruguay. Marino and Spinelli (1999) as
Forcipomyia guarani Marino and Spinelli 1999: 448
(preoccupied by Forcipomyia guarani Ronderos and
Spinelli, 1999: 153) junior synonym of Forcipomyia
taragui Marino, Spinelli and Cazorla, according to
Marino et al. (2002).
Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay (Artigas,
Tacuarembó).
Species Group squamitibia
Forcipomyia pinamarensis Spinelli, 1983: 121.
Records in Uruguay. Marino and Spinelli (2002).
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama,
Venezuela, Uruguay (Tacuarembó).
Forcipomyia rioplatensis Marino and Spinelli, 2002:
314.
Records in Uruguay. Marino and Spinelli (2002).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas,
Tacuarembó).
Subgenus F. (Lasiohelea) Kieffer 1921: 54.
Forcipomyia stylifera Lutz 1913: 63 (Centrorhynchus)
Records in Uruguay. Canneva (2023).
Distribution. Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Ecuador,
Trinidad, Uruguay (Montevideo), Venezuela.
Subgenus F. (Microhelea) Kieffer, 1917: 364.
Forcipomyia fuliginosa (Meigen, 1818): 86
(Ceratopogon).
Records in Uruguay. Wirth (1972).
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
3Ceratopogonidae from Uruguay
Table 1. Distribution of Ceratopogonidae species in Uruguay (* indicates presence of species, - indicates absence of records).
Alluaudomyia biestroi * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Alluaudomyia guarani * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Alluaudomyia schnacki * - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - * -
Amerohelea similis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Atrichopogon delpontei * - - - * _ * - - * - * * * * - * - -
Atrichopogon uruguayensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Bezzia brevicornis * - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - -
Bezzia nobilis * - - - - - - - - * * - - - - - - - -
Clastrieromyia dycei - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Clastrieromyia uruguayensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - -
Culicoides biestroi - - - - - - - - - * * - - - - - - - -
Culicoides carbonelli - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - -
Culicoides caridei - * - - - - - - - * - - - - - * - - *
Culicoides chacoensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - -
Culicoides charruus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - -
Culicoides debilipalpis * * - - - - - - - * - - - - * - - - -
Culicoides fernandoi * - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - -
Culicoides flinti * - - * - * - - * * - * - - * - * * -
Culicoides impusilloides - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Culicoides insignis * - - - - * * - * * - * - * * - * - -
Culicoides paraensis * - - - - - - - - * * - * - - - - - -
Culicoides uruguayensis - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - -
Culicoides venezuelensis * - - - - * - - - * - * - * * - * - -
Dasyhelea necrophila * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Downeshelea charrua - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - -
Forcipomyia fuliginosa - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Forcipomyia pinamarensis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Forcipomyia rioplatensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Forcipomyia stylifera - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - -
Forcipomyiataragui * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * -
Groganhelea rondoniensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Leptoconops brasiliensis - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - -
Leptoconops casali - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - * - - -
Mallochohelea limitrofe * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mallochohelea termophila * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Monohelea uruguayensis * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pachyhelea pachymera * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Paryphoconus nubifer - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - -
Stenoxenus pseudofulvus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - -
Stilobezzia fiebrigi * - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - -
Stilobezzia rabelloi * - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - * -
Artigas
Canelones
Cerro Largo
Colonia
Durazno
Flores
Florida
Lavalleja
Maldonado
Montevideo
Paysandú
Río Negro
Rivera
Rocha
Salto
San José
Soriano
Tacuarembó
Treinta y Tres
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
CANNEVA et al.
Distribution. Widely distributed in the Palearctic,
Eastern, Afrotropical, Nearctic and Neotropical
regions. In the south of the Neotropic Argentina and
Uruguay (Cerro Largo).
Subfamily Ceratopogoninae Newman, 1834: 388.
Tribe Culicoidini Kieffer, 1911: 1.
Genus Culicoides Latreille, 1809: 251.
Subgenus C. (Avaritia) Fox, 1955: 218.
Culicoides impusilloides Spinelli and Wirth, 1984: 178.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Martínez (1991).
Distribution. Brazil, Uruguay (Tacuarembó).
Subgenus C. (Cotocripus) Brèthes, 1912: 451.
Culicoides caridei (Brèthes, 1912): 451 (Cotocripus).
Records in Uruguay. Barbosa (1947), with additional
records by Wirth (1960), Spinelli and Wirth (1985).
Franca-Rodriguez (1963) mentioned the species C.
bambusicola Lutz and C. debilipalpis Lutz, but
according to Spinelli and Martínez (1991) she probably
misidentified the specimens of bambusicola, which the
authors think actually belong to C. caridei.
Material examined. SAN JOSÉ, Playa Penino, 12-X-
2016, human bait, Canneva leg., det., 1♀, BC242.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay (Canelones,
Montevideo, San José, Treinta y Tres).
Subgenus C. (Drymodesmyia) Vargas, 1960: 40.
Culicoides chacoensis Spinelli and Wirth, 1984: 174.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Martínez (1991).
Material examined. ARTIGAS, Bella Unión, Canneva
det., 1♀, BC216.
Distribution. Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay,
Uruguay (Artigas, Salto).
Culicoides uruguayensis Ronderos, 1990: 117.
Records in Uruguay. Ronderos (1990).
Distribution. Uruguay (Paysandú).
4
Table 2. Data from Atrichopogon delpontei examined in Uruguay. Indicated: Department (Dep.), Locality, Date, Method, Legate
(Leg.), Determination (Det.), Male, Female (Fem.), CodeFCE-Dip.
Abbreviations: CM = Canneva, Martínez; FMS = Franca, Martínez, Salvatella; GS = Gustavo Spinelli.
Dep. Locality Date Method Leg. Det. Male Fem Code
Artigas Antigua Ruta 3, km 5770 4-XI-1979 Shannon trap FMS CM 1 11 0282
Artigas Isla Paredón 10-IX-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 0 1 0283
Artigas Isla Rica 10-II-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 21 60 0284
Artigas Isla Rica 05-IV-1982 UV light trap FMS CM 181 152 0285
Artigas Arrocera Conti 08-II-1978 UV light trap FMS GS 16 290 0286
Artigas Arrocera Conti 15-IX-1979 Shannon trap FMS GS 16 331 0287
Artigas Arrocera Conti 05-IV-1982 Shannon trap FMS GS 10 149 0288
Artigas Frente a Isla Paredón 14-XI-1978 Shannon trap FMS CM 0 127 0289
Artigas Frente a Isla Paredón 12-XI-1980 Shannon trap FMS CM 29 233 0290
Artigas Río Uruguay, Calnú 13-XI-1980 Shannon trap FMS GS 16 173 0291
Durazno Represa Baygorria 11-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 2 11 0292
Durazno site 43 20-I-2010 Sweep net Lorier CM 7 2 0293
Florida site 25 1-XII-2009 Sweep net Lorier CM 0 1 0294
Montevideo Barrio Carrasco 08-XI-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 1 0295
Río Negro Rincón de Ramírez 10-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 0 14 0296
Rivera Arroyo Lunarejo 26-VIII-95 Sweep net Martínez GS 0 2 0297
Rocha Boca Sarandí 17-IX-1994UV light trap Martínez GS 0 2 0298
Rocha Sarandí del Consejo 19-IV-1995 UV light trap Martínez GS 0 1 0299
Salto Arroyo Boycuá 12-I-1981 Shannon trap FMS CM 24 30 0300
Salto El Espinillar 18-III-1980 Shannon trap FMS CM 9 40 0301
Salto Granja San Agustín 02-XI-1979 Shannon trap FMS CM 26 52 0302
Salto Isla Redonda 12-I-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 0 21 0303
Salto Parque José Luis 04-IV-1982 UV light trap FMS GS 0 2 0304
Soriano Parque B. Hidalgo 08-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 69 152 0305
Soriano Represa Palmar 09-X-1980 UV light trap FMS GS 3 70 0306
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
5Ceratopogonidae from Uruguay
Subgenus C. (Haematomyidium) Goeldi, 1905: 137.
Culicoides debilipalpis Lutz, 1913: 60.
Records in Uruguay. Franca-Rodriguez (1963).
Spinelli and Ronderos (1991) as Culicoides lahillei
(Iches, 1906), error, partly junior synonym of C.
debilipalpis according to Spinelli and Ronderos (1997).
Ronderos and Spinelli (1995) as Culicoides ichesi
Ronderos and Spinelli, 1995: 77, junior synonym of C.
debilipalpis according to Spinelli and Ronderos (1997).
Distribution. USA to Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas,
Canelones, Montevideo, Salto).
Culicoides flinti Wirth, 1982: 251.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Wirth (1984), with
additional adult records by Martínez, Spinelli and
Franca-Rodríguez (1992).
Material Examined. Table 3 shows material collected
in six departments of the country.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
(Artigas, Colonia, Flores, Maldonado, Montevideo, Río
Negro, Salto, Soriano, Tacuarembó).
Culicoides paraensis (Goeldi, 1905): 137
(Haematomyidium).
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Ronderos (1991),
they remark this is the southernmost record of the
species.
Material Examined. MONTEVIDEO, Malvín Norte,
01-XII-2016, human bait, Canneva leg., det., 1♀,
BC251. PAYSANDÚ, Paysandú city, Canneva det., 1♀,
BC241. RIVERA, Gajo del Arroyo Lunarejo, 25-II-1996,
sweep net, Martínez leg., Spinelli det., 2♀, FCE-Dip
0345.
Distribution. USA to Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas,
Montevideo, Paysandú, Rivera).
Subgenus C. (Hoffmania) Fox, 1948: 21.
Culicoides biestroi Spinelli and Ronderos, 1991: 86.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Martínez (1991).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Montevideo).
Culicoides charruus Spinelli and Martínez, 1991: 176
(as charrua).
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Martínez (1991) as
Culicoides charrua Spinelli and Martínez, synonym of
C. charruus according to Borkent and Spinelli (2007).
Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay (San
José).
Culicoides fernandoi Tavares and Souza, 1979: 611.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Ronderos (1991).
Material Examined. RIO NEGRO, Esteros de
Farrapos, old port 5 km from San Javier, 21-IV-2002,
light trap screen, from 7 pm to 8 pm, Martínez leg.,
Spinelli det., 2♂, 5♀, FCE-Dip 0307.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay
(Artigas, Río Negro).
Culicoides insignis Lutz, 1913: 51.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Ronderos (1991),
Martínez et al. (1992).
Material Examined. Table 4 shows the material
collected in eight departments of the country.
Distribution. USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Central
America and South America to Argentina, Uruguay
(Artigas, Flores, Florida, Maldonado, Montevideo, Río
Negro, Rocha, Salto, Soriano, Tacuarembó).
Subgenus C. (Psychophaena) Philippi, 1865: 628.
Culicoides venezuelensis Ortiz and Mirsa, 1950: 137.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Ronderos (1991),
Martínez et al. (1992).
Material Examined. Table 5 shows the material
collected in six departments of the country.
Distribution. Costa Rica to Argentina, Uruguay
(Artigas, Flores, Montevideo, Río Negro, Rocha, Salto,
Soriano).
Subgenus unplaced, eublepharus species group
Culicoides carbonelli Spinelli, 2021 in Spinelli,
Ronderos and Díaz (2021): 402.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli et al. (2021).
Distribution. Uruguay (Rocha).
Tribe Ceratopogonini Newman, 1834: 388.
Genus Alluaudomyia Kieffer, 1913: 12.
Alluaudomyia catarinensis Spinelli and Wirth, 1984:
681.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (1988) as Alluaudomyia
biestroi Spinelli, 1988: 130, junior synonym of A.
catarinensis according to Spinelli (2019), with
additional records.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
(Artigas, Salto).
Alluaudomyia guarani Spinelli, 1988: 131.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (1988).
Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay (Artigas).
Alluaudomyia schnacki Spinelli, 1983: 403.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (1985).
Material examined. ARTIGAS, Bella Unión, Canneva
det., 1♀, BC114. PAYSANDÚ, Paysandú city, Canneva
det., 2♀, BC235.
Distribution. Argentina, Chile, Uruguay (Artigas,
Paysandú, Tacuarembó).
Genus Downeshelea Wirth and Grogan, 1988: 50.
Downeshelea charrua Felippe-Bauer and Spinelli,
1994: 161.
Records in Uruguay. Felippe-Bauer and Spinelli
(1994).
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
CANNEVA et al.
Distribution. Uruguay (Salto).
Genus Monohelea Kieffer, 1917: 294.
Monohelea uruguayensis Felippe-Bauer and Spinelli,
1998: 63.
Records in Uruguay. Felippe-Bauer and Spinelli
(1998).
Distribution. Uruguay (Artigas).
Genus Stilobezzia Kieffer, 1911: 118.
Subgenus S. (Stilobezzia) Kieffer, 1911: 118.
Stilobezzia fiebrigi Kieffer 1917: 309
First record from Uruguay. ARTIGAS, Bella Unión,
Cazorla, Spinelli, Canneva det., 2♂, 5♀, BC128-133.
SALTO, Canneva det., 1♀, BC190.
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
(Artigas, Salto).
Stilobezzia rabelloi Lane, 1947: 203.
Records in Uruguay. Cazorla (2016).
Material examined. PAYSANDÚ, Paysandú city,
Canneva det., 1♀, BC237.
Distribution. USA to Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas,
Paysandú, Tacuarembó).
Tribe Johannsenomyiini Crampton, 1925: 61.
Genus Groganhelea Spinelli and Dippolito, 1995 in
Spinelli et al., 1995: 166.
6
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
Table 3. Data from Culicoides flinti examined in Uruguay. Indicated: Department (Dep.), Locality, Date, Method, Legate (Leg.),
Determination (Det.), Male, Female (Fem.), CodeFCE-Dip. Abbreviations: CM = Canneva, Martínez; FMS = Franca, Martínez,
Salvatella.
Dep. Locality Date Method Leg. Det. Male Fem Code
Artigas Arroyo Mandiyú 10-IX-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 27 146 0308
Artigas Isla Paredón 10-IX-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 15 79 0309
Artigas Isla Rica 19-I-1979 Shannon trap FMS CM 3 14 0310
Artigas Frente a Isla Paredón 14-XI-1978 Shannon trap FMS CM 1 18 0313
Colonia Carmelo, Four S. Hotel 14-IV-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 2 0315
Maldonado Punta del Este 10-III-2003 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 26 0317
Maldonado Sauce de Portezuelo 10-III-2003 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 29 0318
Montevideo Barrio Carrasco 23-X-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 1 28 0319
Salto El Espinillar 18-III-1980 Shannon trap FMS CM 13 66 0322
Soriano Parque B. Hidalgo 08-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 12 7 0325
Table 4. Data from Culicoides insignis examined in Uruguay. Indicated: Department (Dep.), Locality, Date, Method, Legate (Leg.),
Determination (Det.), Male, Female (Fem.), Code FCE-Dip, except BC, which is the authors personal collection code. Abbreviations:
CM = Canneva, Martínez; FMS = Franca, Martínez, Salvatella; GS = Gustavo Spinelli.
Dep. Locality Date Method Leg. Det. Male Fem Code
Artigas Isla Rica 19-I-1979 Shannon trap FMS CM 3 3 0329
Artigas Frente a Isla Paredón 14-XI-1978 Shannon trap FMS CM 2 7 0332
Florida site 37 25-XI-2009 Sweep net Lorier CM 2 3 0335
Maldonado Punta del Este 31-III-2003 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 192 0336
Montevideo Carrasco neighborhood 08-XI-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 51 0337
Río Negro Esteros de Farrapo 19-V-2002 Light trap Martínez CM 1 0 BC213
Rocha Boca Sarandí 18-IV-1995 Shannon trap Martínez GS 1 7 0339
Rocha Potrero Grande 16-III-1995 Shannon trap Martínez GS 86 4 0340
Salto Salto, Club Remeros 21-V-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 0 1865 0341
Salto El Espinillar 18-III-1980 Shannon trap FMS CM 2 8 0342
Salto Río Daymán, ruta 3 15-IV-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 2 908 0343
Soriano Parque B. Hidalgo 08-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 6 18 0344
Groganhelea rondoniensis Spinelli and Dippolito, 1995
in Spinelli et al., 1995: 167.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (2000).
Distribution. Brazil, Uruguay (Artigas).
Genus Mallochohelea Wirth, 1962: 278.
Mallochohelea limitrofe Spinelli and Felippe-Bauer,
1990: 87.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Felippe-Bauer
(1990).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas).
Mallochohelea termophila (Spinelli, 1984): 197
(Neobezzia).
Records in Uruguay. Ronderos and Spinelli (2012).
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay (Artigas).
Tribe Palpomyiini Enderlein, 1936: 49.
Genus Amerohelea Grogan and Wirth, 1981: 1280.
Amerohelea similis Spinelli, 1989: 27.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (1989).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas).
Genus Bezzia Kieffer, 1899: 69.
Bezzia brevicornis (Kieffer, 1917): 328. (Allobezzia).
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Wirth (1989a).
Distribution. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay (Artigas,
Lavalleja).
Bezzia nobilis (Winnertz, 1852): 79. (Ceratopogon).
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Wirth (1989b).
Material examined. PAYSANDÚ, Paysandú city,
Canneva det., 1♀ 1♂, BC236.
Distribution. Palearctic, Nearctic and Neotropical
regions to Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas, Montevideo,
Paysandú).
Genus Clastrieromyia Spinelli and Grogan, 1985: 330.
Clastrieromyia dycei Spinelli and Grogan, 1986: 456.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Grogan (1986).
Distribution. Uruguay (Tacuarembó).
Clastrieromyia uruguayensis Spinelli and Grogan,
1986: 458.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli and Grogan (1986).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Artigas, Salto).
Genus Pachyhelea Wirth, 1959: 50.
Pachyhelea pachymera (Williston, 1900)
(Ceratopogon).
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli, Ronderos and Funes
(2016).
Distribution. USA, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay
(Artigas).
Tribe Stenoxenini Coquillett, 1899: 61.
Genus Paryphoconus Enderlein, 1912: 57.
Paryphoconus nubifer Macfie, 1939: 5.
Records in Uruguay. Wirth and Ratanaworabhan
(1972).
Distribution. Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay,
Uruguay (Lavalleja).
Genus Stenoxenus Coquillett, 1899: 61.
Stenoxenus pseudofulvus Spinelli, 1998: 54.
Records in Uruguay. Spinelli (1998).
Distribution. Argentina, Uruguay (Salto).
7Ceratopogonidae from Uruguay
Bol. Soc. Zool. Uruguay (2ª época). 2025. ISSN 2393-6940Vol. 34(2): e34.2.1
Table 5. Data from Culicoides venezuelensis examined in Uruguay. Indicated: Department (Dep.), Locality, Date, Method, Legate
(Leg.), Determination (Det.), Male, Female (Fem.), CodeFCE-Dip. Abbreviations: CM = Canneva, Martínez; FMS = Franca,
Martínez, Salvatella; GS = Gustavo Spinelli.
Dep. Locality Date Method Leg. Det. Male Fem Code
Artigas Isla Paredón 10-IX-1978 UV light trap FMS CM 0 1 0346
Artigas Isla Rica 19-I-1979 Shannon trap FMS CM 4 12 0347
Artigas Frente a Isla Paredón 14-XI-1978 Shannon trap FMS CM 5 11 0350
Montevideo Carrasco neighborhood 08-XI-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 2 53 0352
Montevideo near Carrasco 14-V-2002 Mosq light trap Martínez CM 1 504 0353
Río Negro Esteros de Farrapos 21-IV-2002 Light trap screen Martínez GS 0 1 0354
Rocha Bocadel Sarandí 18-V-1995 Shannon trap Martínez GS 1 9 0355
Salto El Espinillar 18-III-1980 Shannon trap FMS CM 4 17 0356
Salto Isla Redonda 16-XI-1978 Shannon trap FMS CM 3 9 0357
Soriano Parque B. Hidalgo 08-X-1980 UV light trap FMS CM 0 3 0359
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Ceratopogonidae fauna in Uruguay records a total
of 41 species in 17 genera, which is small compared to
neighboring countries Brazil with 520 species in 31
genera (Santarem and Felippe-Bauer, 2021) and
Argentina with 356 species in 35 genera (Spinelli et al.,
2023). It is not remarkable that Uruguayan fauna is less
than ideally represented, considering it has fewer
ecoregions, shows clear differences in territorial size,
and dissimilar amount of research in the topic. What is
indeed remarkable is that 15 species (more than one
third of total) bear significant taxonomic importance, as
Uruguayan material has been designated paratype in
seven species, one of which was used to describe
Leptoconops casali mouthparts, and as a holotype in
eight more species descriptions, including the type of
subgenus Lophomyidium in Atrichopogon.
Coincidentally, this work is the first mention of
Ceratopogonidae in Uruguay, written in the year 1929
by Ergasto H. Cordero, who was considered the first
Uruguayan zoologist and also made contributions in
the area of medical entomology. Other important author
is Willis Wagner Wirth, with more than 400 works on
Ceratopogonidae systematics in all regions of the
world, including species on the medically important
genus Culicoides inhabiting Uruguay. We shall also
mention María E. Franca Rodríguez that contributed to
the knowledge of Culicoides species in the country, and
consolidated the medical entomology topics into the
parasitology course program from Faculty of Medicine,
University of the Republic.
Species in Leptoconops, Culicoides and
Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) feed on vertebrate blood,
some of them being notorious pests (Borkent and
Spinelli, 2007), and a group of species transmit disease
to humans and animals. Bluetongue is an infectious
and non contagious viral disease transmitted
predominantly by Culicoides insignis, that affects
sheep and some wildlife animal species worldwide,
with clinical signs that in sheep include facial oedema
specially in the tongue and lips, and hyperaemia of the
oral cavity (Lager, 2004). Historically the disease was
known to be restricted between latitudes 45°N and
35°S, and territories outside the area are considered
bluetongue virus free (Lager, 2004). Oropouche fever
is an acute febrile disease affecting humans, and the
causative virus is transmitted by the bites of Culicoides
paraensis and also by some species of mosquitoes
(Vasconcelos et al., 2011). Borkent and Spinelli (2007)
list all vector species and organisms known to be
transmitted by Ceratopogonidae in the continent. In
contrast to neighboring countries, Uruguay has no
records of disease transmitted by ceratopogonids to
humans nor animals.
Here it is presented the first species list of the family
Ceratopogonidae in Uruguay, put together from
unpublished authors' material, observation of
specimens in the Entomology Collection of Facultad de
Ciencias, and literature records previously scattered in
various papers, several of which are not readily
accessible. We believe it is a solid starting point for the
necessary future research on the taxonomy, bionomics
and medical and veterinary importance of the family in
Uruguay.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to express our gratitude to all the people
and institutions involved in the different samplings, and
to the manager and staff of the Entomological
Collection at Facultad de Ciencias for allowing access
to reviewed material.
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