The
systematics and
taxonomy of this genus are confused. A large number of species are of unknown relation to those that have been assigned to
subgenera already. Furthermore, many subgenera are sometimes elevated to full genus status, or additional genera (such as
Paradasyhelea) are included as subgenera herein. A widely cited, periodically updated, subgeneric classification of species of
Culicoides begins with the warning that the traditional approach to classification of species in this genus has led to "
phylogenetic chaos". Some of the specific consequences are mentioned, as well as recommendations for future work. A molecular phylogeny based on 42 species from 3 continents was proposed in 2017. In this work, the authors found that the subgenera
Monoculicoides,
Culicoides,
Haematomyidium,
Hoffmania,
Remmia and
Avaritia (including the main vectors of
bluetongue virus disease) were monophyletic, whereas the subgenus
Oecacta was paraphyletic. The study validated the subgenus
Remmia (= Schultzei group) as a valid subgenus, outside of the subgenus
Oecacta. The authors also considered that in Europe,
Culicoides obsoletus,
Culicoides scoticus and
Culicoides chiopterus should be part of the
Obsoletus complex whereas
Culicoides dewulfi should be excluded from this complex. The authors concluded that the current
Culicoides classification needed to be revisited with modern tools. • Subgenus
Avaritia •
Culicoides brevitarsis - suspected as vector of
Akabane and
Aino virus •
Culicoides imicola - main vector of
bluetongue virus and
African Horse Sickness in Southern Europe •
Culicoides chiopterus - •
Culicoides dewulfi - •
Culicoides obsoletus - •
Culicoides scoticus - • Subgenus
Beltranmyia •
Culicoides circumscriptus •
Culicoides crepuscularis •
Culicoides manchuriensis •
Culicoides salinarius • Subgenus
Culicoides •
Culicoides boyi •
Culicoides delta •
Culicoides fagineus •
Culicoides grisescens •
Culicoides impunctatus (
Highland midge) - vector for
Haemoproteus spp. •
Culicoides kalix •
Culicoides newsteadi •
Culicoides nipponensis •
Culicoides pulicaris •
Culicoides punctatus •
Culicoides selandicus • Subgenus
Drymodesmyia •
Culicoides loughnani • Subgenus
Haematomyidium •
Culicoides insinuatus •
Culicoides paraensis - vector of
Oropouche virus • Subgenus
Haemophoructus •
Culicoides gemellus • Subgenus
Hoffmania •
Culicoides foxi •
Culicoides fusipalpis •
Culicoides ignacioi •
Culicoides insignis •
Culicoides lutzi •
Culicoides maruim •
Culicoides paramaruim • Subgenus
Macfiella •
Culicoides phlebotomus • Subgenus
Meijerehelea •
Culicoides guttifer • Subgenus
Monoculicoides •
Culicoides nubeculosus •
Culicoides variipennis • Subgenus
Oecacta •
Culicoides furens transmits
Mansonella ozzardi • Subgenus
Remmia •
Culicoides oxystoma • Subgenus
Tokunagahelea •
Culicoides pygmaeus • Subgenus
Trithecoides •
Culicoides anophelis Species
incertae sedis include: •
limai group •
Culicoides limai •
fluviatilis group •
Culicoides fluviatilis •
Culicoides leopodoi •
reticulatus group •
Culicoides guyanensis •
Culicoides paucienfuscatus •
Culicoides reticulatus ==Description==