Bioecology of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the water basin of the Huebra river (Western Spain)

Blackflies from Western Spain

Abstract

The objectives of this research have been to analyse the diversity and geographical distribution of the blackfly species from the Huebra river basin located in Salamanca province, Western Spain. This research significantly contributes to expanding knowledge of the Simuliidae family. This study does not only increase and ameliorate faunal and bioecological data, but also impacts on the understanding of blackfly species across the Spanish national territory. The identification of 23 species has led to the addition of 7 new records to the simuliid fauna of the region: Prosimulium hirtipes (Fries, 1824); Simulium (Nevermannia) armoricanum Doby & David, 1961; Simulium (Nevermannia) carthusiense Grenier & Dorier, 1959; Simulium (Nevermannia) naturale Davies, 1966; Simulium (Nevermannia) vernum Macquart, 1826; Simulium (Simulium) bezzii (Corti, 1914); and Urosimulium faurei (Bernard, Grenier & Bailly-Choumara, 1972), expanding the previously recorded 19 species to 26. This study also provides valuable insights into the biology and geographical distribution of these species. It sheds light on various aspects, such as the preferred substrates for pre-imaginal larval and pupal stages, ranges of altitude, water velocity, water temperature, and the dimensions of watercourses conducive to their development. Additionally, it offers new information on the abundance of larvae and pupae, revealing the diverse ecological gradients that influence their occurrence and distribution patterns. The results indicate that the diversity of blackfly species varies according to factors such as altitude, water velocity, turbidity, and water temperature.