Taxonomy of the Australasian Phlebotominae (Diptera : Psychodidae) with revision of genus Sergentomyia from the region

Abstract

The composition of Australasian Phlebotominae is examined and a generic key presented for adults of Phlebotomus, Idiophlebotomus and Sergentomyia, the genera represented in the region. Regional occurrences and distributions of genera, subgenera and species are compared with patterns shown by the same or related taxa elsewhere in the world. Structures used in taxonomy of the group are comprehensively reviewed with illustrations. Intraspecific variability, particularly for the highly variable and dominant species S. queenslandi (Hill), habitats, trophic morphology and biogeography are discussed. The limited data on blood-feeding habits of regional species are assembled and lines of possible future work are suggested.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Sergentomyia for the region is also presented with keys to adult females and males. Twenty-four species are recognised, including five newly described: S. buruensis, sp. nov. from Buru I., Savanjaya, and S. clara, sp. nov., S. gibsoni, sp. nov., S. pugifera, sp nov., and S. standfasti, sp. nov., all from mainland Australia. Additions are made to descriptions of previously known species. S. moresby (Fairchild) and S. meridionalis (Tonnoir) are placed respectively as junior synonyms of S. englishae (Tonnoir) and S. queenslandi (Hill). Subgeneric placement and the derivation of names are revised for the 24 Sergentomyia spp. recognised from the region. One species [S. hoogstraali (Fairchild)] is placed in subgenus Neophlebotomus, 12 species in subgenus Parrotomyia [S. buruensis, sp. nov., S. clara, sp. nov., S. coronata (Quate & Quate), S. crypta (Quate & Quate), S. curvata Lewis & Dyce, S. dolichobyssus (Fairchild), S. englishae (Tonnoir), S. kebarica (Quate & Quate), S. queenslandi (Hill), S. sansaporensis (Fairchild), S. spinosior (Quate & Quate), S. trezkinn Lewis & Dyce] and 11 species remain unplaced to subgenus [S. brachycornuta (Fairchild), S. cidaria (Quate & Quate), S. curtartus (Quate & Quate), S. fergusoni (Fairchild), S. gibsoni, sp. nov., S. noemforensis (Fairchild), S. pugifera, sp. nov., S. quintu (Fairchild), S. sibylas (Quate & Quate), S. standfasti, sp. nov., S. vanella (Quate & Quate)]. S. hoogstraali and S. vanella are recorded from mainland Australia for the first time.

Australasian Phlebotominae are restricted in occurrence to the mainland of Australia, New Guinea and some smaller islands lying between New Guinea and Weber's line. Fourteen of the 24 Sergentomyia spp. known from the Region are recorded only from the New Guinea subregion, six species are restricted to Australia and four species are recorded from both land masses. One of the latter species, S. queenslandi, is known also to occur in Timor.

Human attack by phlebotomines in the Australasian Region is rare overall and unknown for the Sergentomyia spp. Transmission of diseases of humans or domesticated animals in the Region by phlebotomines is most unlikely.