Descriptions of polar gynandromorphic specimens of Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer and Obsoletus group (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) from West Bengal, India

Abstract

Five rare polar gynandromorphic specimens of Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae), four of Culicoides oxystoma Kieffer, and one specimen of Obsoletus group were studied. These individuals were collected during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons by using UV LED light traps from cattle shed and poultry farm located in Purulia, West Bengal, India. The gynandromorphic individuals of C. oxystoma revealed a typical one with male genitalia with a slender abdomen. It had the head, antenna, mouthparts, and the associated accessory structures together with the wings were similar to that of a female. On the other hand, three specimens had female genitalia and head, antenna, mouthparts like male. Very interestingly, the gynander specimen of Obsoletus group possesses antennal flagellomeres, mouthparts, and wings of females but enlarged pedicel-like male and the presence of basistyle, dististyle but devoid of aedeagus and parameres.