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New insights on black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from a touristic destination of Hispaniola

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Abstract

Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are well known as annoying biting pests and vectors of disease-causing agents to humans and other animals. Despite their relevance, no studies have been conducted on Hispaniola for decades. Our work aimed to determine the species composition, relative abundance, breeding sites, phylogenetic relationships, and biting habits of black flies from an important ecotourism spot in La Vega Province (Dominican Republic). Simulium ochraceum sensu lato Walker, Simulium haematopotum Malloch, and Simulium quadrivittatum Loew were identified by both morphological and molecular analyses. Black flies were abundant in most (92% of the total) of the flowing water courses studied and their relative abundance varied depending on the method of collection and type of water course. Simulium haematopotum was prominent in large rivers whereas the other two black fly species were more abundant in streams and ditches. The immature stages were found primarily attached to emergent/submerged riparian vegetation and decaying leaves. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene revealed that the specimens of S. ochraceum s.l. are divided into three clades, and those from the Dominican Republic formed a group with members from Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. The S. quadrivittatum COI sequences in this study formed a distinct clade from previous collections in Belize and Costa Rica, which might suggest that they represent a species complex. The S. haematopotum sequences were similar to those reported in other countries. Simulium quadrivittatum was the predominant anthropophilic species (statistically significant) and preferred to bite the lower parts of the body of humans. A comprehensive illustrated description of adults (females and males), pupae, and larvae of the three simuliid taxa is provided.

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Availability of data and material

All specimens are deposited in the last author's affiliation. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. GenBank accession numbers (OK576357–OK576379) are free available.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to the professional language editing service “Proof-Reading-Service (PRS)” to improve readability and English grammar.

Funding

This work is part of the project: “Búsqueda, caracterización y evaluación de agentes ecológicamente amigables para el control de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) de importancia médica en República Dominicana”, supported by the Fondo Nacional de Innovación y Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico (FONDOCyT), Ministerio de Educación Superior, Ciencia y Tecnología (MESCyT), Project No. 2018–19–2B2–043.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Medicina Tropical & Salud Global, Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Mikel Alexander González, María Altagracia Rodríguez-Sosa, Juan Rueda & Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal

  2. Center for Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain

    Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo & José Antonio Oteo

  3. Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat I Biologia Evolutiva (ICBiBE), Universitat de València, C / Profesor José Beltrán Martínez, 2, 46980, Paterna, Spain

    Juan Rueda

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  1. Mikel Alexander González
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  2. Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
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  3. María Altagracia Rodríguez-Sosa
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  4. Juan Rueda
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  5. José Antonio Oteo
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  6. Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal
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Contributions

Mikel A. González and Pedro M. Alarcón-Elbal planned the original idea performed the experimental field work, and carried out the writing (original draft preparation). Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo and José A. Oteo analysed the data, carried out the molecular work, elaborated the phylogenetic analyses and provided critical writing review. María A. Rodríguez-Sousa and Juan Rueda provided technical support and edited the article. All the commented on the previous versions and authors approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Pedro María Alarcón-Elbal.

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González, M.A., Ruiz-Arrondo, I., Rodríguez-Sosa, M.A. et al. New insights on black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from a touristic destination of Hispaniola. Int J Trop Insect Sci 42, 2281–2295 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00760-3

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