ABNORMAL FEATURES IN SPECIMENS OF 8 CULICOIDES SPP (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE) FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AREA

Abnormal features were found in eight Culicoides species from the east ern Mediterranean area. All the specimens were from Sinai and the cent ral Negev except for one specimen of Culicoides newsteadi Austen from Maa'le Gamla in the Golan Heights. One female Culicoides arabiensis Bo orman had joined antennomeres and one male had broadened paramere tips . Individual females of Culicoides azerbajdjhanicus group had joined a ntennomeres, reduced or additional numbers of antenomeres, joined palp al segments, a missing sensory pit, and three spermathecae. One Culico ides derisor Callot & Kremer had three spermathecae. One female Culico ides langeroni Kieffer had joined antennomeres and one had three sperm athecae. One Culicoides marcleti Callot, Kremer & Basset had three spe rmathecae. One female Culicoides newsteadi had joined antennomeres. In Culicoides pseudolangeroni Kremer, Chaker & Delecolle, specimens had three spermathecae, reduced numbers of antennomeres, joined antennomer es, missing sensilla coeloconica, and an additional small sensory pit on the third palpal segment.