New findings and an overall assessment of Norwegian biting midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract

Faunistic studies on biting midges conducted mostly in South Norway between 2006 and 2020, as well as a revision of available literature, resulted in a new comprehensive checklist of the species known from mainland Norway. In total, 21 genera and 216 species of Ceratopogonidae have been registered, of which as many as 165 are with Linnaean names. For the remaining 51 species interim names are given as no existing nominal species could be assigned. Four genera, namely Ceratoculicoides Wirth & Ratanaworabhan, 1971, Monohelea Kieffer, 1917b, Phaenobezzia Haeselbarth, 1965 and Probezzia Kieffer, 1906, and 58 species are reported from Norway for the first time. Records of nine biting midge species previously mentioned from the country turned out to be uncertain and are currently treated as doubtful. In Norway, the most species-rich genera of Ceratopogonidae are: Culicoides Latreille, 1809 with 34, Forcipomyia Meigen, 1818 with 29, Dasyhelea Kieffer, 1911a with 22, Atrichopogon Kieffer, 1906 with 16, Bezzia Kieffer, 1899 with 15, and Palpomyia Meigen, 1818 with 15 reported species.