The Simuliid Bulletin No. 48, July 2017 8 SCIENTIFIC PAPERS

Notes on black flies of the Júcar River and tributaries in Eastern Spain

Córdoba-Lloria S.1, Serna-Mompeán J.P.1, Giménez-Gras O.2, Acosta-Aleixandre R.1 and Bueno-Mari R1*.

1Departamento de investigación y Desarrollo, Laboratorios Lokímica, Catarroja (Valencia), España.

2 Consorci de la Ribera, Alzira (Valencia), España.

* Correspondence author: [email protected]/[email protected]

Abstract

During last years, black flies have become more and more important at Span- ish public health panorama. This is due to the disturbance increase for cattle ranchers, hospitality industry and citizen complaints linked to biting behaviour of those insects. The objective of this article is contribute to the knowledge of diversity and distribution of Spanish simulids present at Júcar river and its in- fluence area at Ribera region, situated in Valencian Community, at the east part of Iberian Peninsula.

Key words: Black flies, entomology, aquatic insects, pest control, environmen- tal health, Spain.

Introduction

In addition to the annoyances caused by the simulid bite, their importance lies in their diseases transmission role since they can act as vectors of a large num- ber of pathogens. Currently, in Spain, they are only involved in the transmis- sion of diseases that affect cattle and wild animals like birds, equids, bovids and lagomorphs (Crosskey, 1993), but not humans until now. Some of the pathogens that can be associated with haematophagic behaviour of black flies are several protozoa such as Leucocytozoon, nematodes like Onchocerca, bac- teria such as "anthrax" or viruses like myxomatosis.

In the Commonwealths of Ribera Baixa and Ribera Alta (Eastern Spain), the number of citizen complaints related with black flies activity has increased sig- nificantly in recent years. Similar situations have been recently described in The Simuliid Bulletin No. 48, July 2017 9 other regions of Spain (Ruiz-Arrondo, 2015), basically linked to ecological changes in rivers, streams and channels.

Not all species of simulids feed on humans, many of them parasite almost ex- clusively birds or other mammals (Adler, 2004). Problems on cattle are very frequent, causing discomfort to animals and, in many cases, also economic losses for breeders due to the stress associated by the itching of these animals. This stress can cause weightloss, stop producing milk or even births reduction (Fredeen, 1977). The right identification of anthropophilic species as well as their distribution, ecology and phenology is essential to plan properly a surveil- lance and control programme against these insects of major concern for human and animal health.

Material and methods

Study area

The study was carry out at the lower part of Júcar river between dam of Tous municipality and Júcars river mouth in Cullera municipality, located at Ribera Alta and Ribera Baja Commonwealths. Four tributaries, namely Sellent, Barche- ta, Magro and Verde rivers, as well as several irrigation ditches placed in Alge- mesí, Cullera and Sueca municipalities were also included in the study. Conse- quently, 64 sampling points were distributed across 160 linear kilometers of these potential simulid breeding sites (Figure 1). It should be mentioned that a strong anthropic regulation is carried out seasonally in Júcar River to irrigate crops (mainly rice fields) in the area of the Natural Park of L'Albufera. Other studies in the area have been reported by López Peña & Jimeniz-Peydró (2017a, 2017b).

Sampling methods

As has been previously mentioned, 64 sampling points were selected based on accessibility criteria. The average distance among sampling points was less than 5 km. The potential fixation substrates of aquatic stages of black flies, mostly macrophytes, were sampled for pupae through a preliminary visual ins- pection, vegetal material picking, transport to laboratory condition, separation of specimens, preservation in alcohol 70º and observation by stereoscopic mi- croscope. For species identification taxonomic criteria of González (1997), Jen- sen (1997) and Belqat (2004) were followed. Monthly entomological collections were done, and here we present the faunistic results of the period August-De- cember 2016.

Results and conclusions

Simuliids were found at 16 of the 64 sites sampled (Table 1) The Simuliid Bulletin No. 48, July 2017 10

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The main positive fixation substrates were macrophytes, especially Potamoge- ton pectinatus L., although pupae were also found on leaves, canes, common club-rush and other helophytes. Aquatic stages of simulids were also collected occasionally on non-helophytical vegetation temporarily submerged due to floods and even on artificial substrates (mainly plastic solid wastes).

Fig. 2 Fig. 3

Below some brief and concrete information about findings of 8 species collected is provided: The Simuliid Bulletin No. 48, July 2017 11 Simulium (Wilhelmia) sergenti (Edwards, 1923)

This species was widely distributed across the study area, being detected in 10 sampling points inside Júcar, Verde and Barcheta rivers, as well as several irri- gation ditches. Simulium sergenti was always found in low riverbed sections, being only present at altitudes between 2 and 42 meters.

Simulium (Wilhelmia) pseudequinum (Seguy, 1921)

It's presence was recorded in 4 points distributed at Magro and Júcar river, but only in the highest sections, in altitudes oscilating between 39 and 160 meters. No specimens were collected near to coastal zones.

Simulium (Nevermannia) ruficorne (Macquart, 1838)

The species is widely present in Júcar river as well as in Magro and Barxeta riv- ers, registering observations from 2 to 157 meters.

Simulium (Eusimulium) complex

Has been detected in 6 sampling points at rivers Magro, Júcar and Barcheta, but only in the middle and upper zones of the characterized section, far away from the coast. The altitude range vary from 20 to 160 meters.

Simulium (Boophthora) erythrocephalum (De Geer 1776)

It was located only in 4 points of Júcar river and irrigation ditches, mainly in the lower section near the coast, at altitudes between 2 and 18 meters. It is important to note that this is a target species for control programmes due to its aggressive biting behavior registered with humans (Ruiz-Arrondo, 2017).

Simulium (Wilhelmia) lineatum (Meigen, 1804)

Findings were uncommon, detecting only 2 positive points in Júcar and Magro rivers, at 25 and 157 meters of altitude respectively.

Simulium (Simulium) xanthinum (Edwards, 1933)

The species was only found in 2 irrigation ditches placed in the municipality of Sueca, at very low altitudes ranging from 2 to 8 meters.

Simulium (Simulium) reptans (Linnaeus, 1758)

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In relation to the substrate nature, apparently, there is a predilection for the macrophyte Potamogeton pectinatus L. (Figure 2), although larvae and pupae have also been found fixed to semi-submerged helophytes (such as bulrush, reeds, or common rush). In cases where Potamogeton pectinatus were not present at the sampling point, or population densities of aquatic stages were very high, then larval colonization processes of boulders of the river bottom at shallow depth have been observed (Figure 3).

No larvae or pupae have been detected in Potamogeton natans L. or Myriophyl- lum sp. L. However, larvae presence was relatively common on artificial sub- strates such as glass bottles, porcelain plates, clothing and, above all, plastic bags. An apparent preference for white or light colours in these artificial sub- strates has been observed.

All this information is very useful for the design of simulid control programmes. Further studies with longer sampling periods where correlations of biotic and abiotic factors linked to black flies proliferation on aquatic environments can be done would be also very interesting for the management of those insects of major significance for public and animal health.

Acknowledgments

Authors state that this study has been conducted in the framework of a public contract focused on vector control and financed by Ribera's Consortium (Associ- ation of municipalities of Ribera Region) .

References Adler, P.H., et al. 2004. The black flies (Simuliidae) of North America. Ithaca, New York, 941 pp. Belqat B., et al. 2004. Clés Analytiques des Simulies (Diptera) du Maroc. Identi- fication keys of the black-flies (Diptera: Simulidae) of Morocco. Vol. 15, 77-137. Crosskey, R.W. 1993. Blackflies (Simuliidae), Pp. 241-287, in Lane R.P. & Crosskey R.W. (eds.), Medical insects and arachnids. Chichester y New York, 740 pp. Fredeen, F.J.H. 1977. A review of economic importance of blackflies (Simulii- dae) in Canada. Questiones Entomologicae, 13:219-229. González G. 1997. Claves para la identificación de la flora y la fauna de las aguas continentales de la Península Ibérica. Asociación Española de Limno- logía, publicación Nº6. The Simuliid Bulletin No. 48, July 2017 14 Jensen F. 1997. Aquatic insects of North Europe - A Taxonomic Handbook. Vo- lume 2. Ed. Anders N. Nilsson. López-Peña, and Jiménez-Peydró R., 2017a. Contribución al conocimiento de las moscas negras (Diptera, Simuliidae) en la cuenca hidrográfica del Júcar. Boletín de la Asociación española de Entomología (AeE), 41(1-2): 167-196." López-Peña, and Jiménez-Peydró R., 2017b New data of the black flies (Diptera, Simuliidae) in the Júcar river basin (Valencia autonomous region, East of Spain). Poster in VIIIth EMCA Conference, 12-16 March 2017, Beii, Mon- tenegro, 2017" Ruiz-Arrondo, I., et al. 2015. Expansión de los simúlidos (Díptera Simulidae) en España: Un nuevo reto para la salud pública y la sanidad animal. 2014. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A), 54: 193-200. Ruiz-Arrondo, I., et al. Human-landing rate, gonotrophic cycle length, survivor- ship and public health importance of Simulium erythrocephallum in Zara- goza, northeastern Spain. Parasites & Vectors (2017) 10:175. Villanúa-Inglada, D., et al. Estudio de los simúlidos (Díptera, Simulidae) del río Flumen, Huesca (España). 2013. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Ara- gonesa (S.E.A), 52: 212-218.

Updated checklist and distribution maps of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Spain

David López-Peña and Ricardo Jiménez-Peydró Entomology and Pest Control Laboratory, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Spain. [email protected]

Editorial Note: This paper was accompanied by 53 distribution maps which are referred to in the text but could not be included due to space restrictions. However, the entire paper is available for viewing or down- loading on the internet in the archives of the Simullid Bulletin at URL: http://simuliid-bulletin.blogspot.co.uk/p/archive_30.html

Abstract

An updated checklist of the cited simuliid species in Spain is presented, togeth- er with maps, which show the provincial distribution of each of the known spe- cies.

Key words: Simuliids, checklist, provincial distribution, Spain.