Verification of the synonymy of Simulium damnosum cytoform ‘Nyamagasani’ with Simulium kilibanum Gouteux (Diptera: Simuliidae) together with descriptive data on related forms

Abstract

AbstractAdults, larvae and pupae of the type material of Simulium (Edwardsellum) kilibanumGouteux from Zaïre, the important onchocerciasis vector Simulium (E.) damnosumcytoform ‘Nyamagasani’ from western Uganda and Malawi, and the closely related forms ‘Nkusi’ and ‘Sebwe’ from western Uganda were compared using morphological and molecular methods. Results support the assumption of synonymy of S. kilibanum and the cytoform ‘Nyamagasani’, which hitherto was based on weak evidence. The description of S. kilibanumis supplemented and detailed descriptive data are given of ‘Nyamagasani’and the cytoforms ‘Nkusi’ and ‘Sebwe’ all of which are taxa of the ‘Sanje’ group of the S. damnosum complex.