Biochemical Genetic Variation in the Family Simuliidae: Electrophoretic Identification of the Human Biter in the Isomorphic Simulium jenningsi Group

Abstract

This paper describes inter- and intraspecific protein variation in the 3 closely related species of the Simulium jenningsi black fly group, S. jenningsi Malloch, S. nyssa Stone and Snoddy, and S. n. sp. P. Snoddy and Bauer. Variation is described at single loci coding for the enzymes, phosphoglucomutase, phosphoglucoisomerase, malate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Data are analyzed to assign genetic relationships among the 3 species and to suggest their status as sibling species. The application of electrophoretic methodology has revealed S. n. sp. P. to be the principle biter of humans of this group during the early autumn in north-central Maine.