Blood-feeding Midges in Arizona: New Lizard Hosts and Range Extension for Leptoconops californiensis

mong the less-appreciated species in the richbiological diversity of the Sonoran Desert are avariety of tiny blood-sucking flies, knownvariously as midges, gnats, or jejenes. While somebeach lovers may swear that their own bodiesform the most popular attraction for suchcreatures, the natural world is somewhat morecomplex.Midges in the family Ceratopogonidae areknown from many places on the planet, includingbeaches in Jamaica, California, France, and Russia,with many having a larval phase in sandy soil(Wirth and Atchley 1973). Mammals and birdsare common hosts for blood-feeding midges, butthey are also known to bite turtles and lizards(Mullens et al. 1997).Blood feeding by the midge Leptoconops(Brachyconops) californiensis Wirth & Atchley ondesert lizards has been reported for five lizardspecies: Zebra-tailed Lizard ( Callisaurusdraconoides), Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard(Uma inornata ), Yuman Desert Fringe-toed Lizard(U. rufopunctata ), Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard ( U.scoparia), and Flat-tailed Horned Lizard(Phrynosoma mcallii ; Mullens et al. 1997). Therange of L. californiensis has been reported toinclude desert sand dunes in central and southernCalifornia, and in northwestern Sonora, Mexico(Wirth and Atchley 1973, Mullens et al. 1997).We report here on finding L. californiensis inArizona, feeding on two new lizard host species.Observations were made in the Mohawksand dunes of southwestern Arizona (32°35’N,113°45’W), on 24-25 April, 1999. Lizards werecaptured using a noose and detained brieflybefore release at the capture site, as part of a long-termherpetological study. Midges were removed from thelizards using tweezers and placed into 100% EtOH forlater study. All were deposited in the University ofArizona entomology collection.Leptoconops californiensis females were capturedoff the bodies of four Uma rufopunctata , two DesertIguanas ( Dipsosaurus dorsalis ), and one Desert HornedLizard ( Phrynosoma platyrhinos ). All the lizards wereadults, and all midges were observed on dorsal surfacesof the lizards, ranging from top of the head to proximalportion of the tail. The midges clung tightly to thelizards until captured and appeared to be biting them,though not all midges captured were engorged withblood. Up to three midges were observed on individuallizards, though some midges took flight and were thuslost during capture of the lizards.These specimens of L. californiensis are the firstcollected in Arizona, to our knowledge. While habitatrequirements for the species are not known, previousrecords are all from desert dune systems. The dune fieldclosest to the Mohawk dunes and known to have L.californiensis is the Gran Desierto of Sonora, Mexico, ca.70 km (43 mi) to the south (Mullens et al. 1997).AcknowledgmentsMidge identification was confirmed by FrankRamberg, University of Arizona. Field personnel duringthese observations included Dan Bell, Chip Hedgcock,Dave Prival, Phi Pham, and Don Swann.Literature CitedMullens, B. A., C. Barrows, and A. Borkent. 1997.Lizard feeding by Leptoconops (Brachyconops)californiensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) onN A T U R A L H I S T O R Y N O T E