Phylogenetic analysis indicates thatCulicoides dewulfishould not be considered part of theCulicoides obsoletuscomplex

Abstract

Analysis of DNA sequence data has proven invaluable for defining the relationships among taxa, as well as resolving their evolutionary histories. Here, we analyzed DNA sequence variation of one mitochondrial gene (COI) and two nuclear regions (ITSI and II) to clarify the phylogenetic position ofCulicoides dewulfi, a midge species widely spread in Europe and a suspected vector for bluetongue virus. Various authors have describedC. dewulfieither as part of theCulicoides obsoletus sensu latocomplex or as a separate taxonomic group. A maximum likelihood phylogeny, based upon an optimal model of sequence evolution, placedC. dewulfioutwith theC. obsoletus s.l. complex. Shimodaira-Hasegawa test highlighted that this topology was significantly more likely than any topology that placedC. dewulfianywhere else in the phylogeny. As such,C. dewulfishould not be considered part of theC.obsoletus s.l. complex and instead be treated as a separate group, phylogenetically close to the classical Old World vectorC. imicola.