Australasian species of the blood-feeding Forcipomyia subgenera, Lasiohelea and Dacnoforcipomyia (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract

Cattle-biting species of Forcipomyia subgenus Lasiohelea have come under scrutiny as potential vectors of livestock disease, and a number of species are also nuisance biters. One species of the subgenus has previously been described from Australia. The present paper adds a further 24 new species, viz, colum, caesariata, plumosa, rastraria, russelli, peregrinator, puteus, crocea, paenedentula, citowitschi, serridentata, nemus, incomposita, perae, parenthesis, fenestrarum, brevisicae, infans, aiyurae, kamilaroi, hicksae, ministra, nhulunbuyensis and cuculli, and one species previously recorded from outside the region, carolinensis (Tokunaga). New records are also given for the closely related subgenus Dacnoforcipomyia. Biological information gleaned from the accumulated collection data is discussed, and the origins of the Australasian fauna are considered.