A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE TO SIMULIUM (ECTEMNASPIS) AND SIMULIUM (PSILOPELMIA) LIMITS

Taxonomic limits between sub genera of the Simuliidae have changed throughout this century. Sorne of the difficulties in defining the subgenera Simulium (Ectemnaspis) and Simulium (Psilopelmia) arise from differering perspectives about the groups, the use of different sets of characters, and/or the application of different theorethical frameworks to study them. Of particular importance in this connection are the opposing points of view presented by Coscarón (1984, 1987, 1990, 1991) and Crosskey (1987, 1990). The controversy can be resolved with the use of a phylogenetic approach which provides an effective method to clarify the limits between subgenera.