Annotated checklist and distribution of Culicoides biting midges of Ukraine (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Despite the great socio-economic impact of Culicoides-borne diseases, there is little work on the reassessment of the faunistic and distributional data on this important group of vectors in the territory of Ukraine. Along with the literature review, materials were collected and slide-mounted using the conventional techniques for this study. The revised and commented list of 55 valid species names of the genus Culicoides recorded from Ukraine and their distribution is presented. New collection localities are given for Culicoides griseidorsum Kieffer, Culicoides atripennis Shevchenko and Culicoides newsteadi s.l. Culicoides triangulatus Shevchenko and Culicoides ukrainensis Shevchenko described from Ukraine are recognized as nomina dubia, whereas Culicoides tentorius Austen and Culicoides furcillatus Callot, Kremer and Paradis were excluded from the list. The current state of knowledge on Ukrainian Culicoides fauna should be characterized as rather understudied. Collectively, this suggests that further research efforts are needed, especially in view of the fact that the species recognized as vectors of the economically important diseases of animals are among the most abundant representatives of the genus. Moreover, the article highlights taxonomic problems within certain taxa and provides an outline of its further research perspectives.