A quantitative analysis of wing pattern in the Culicoides pulicaris species group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Wing pattern is very important in the taxonomy of the genus Culicoides. To date no quantitative method has been described permitting the inclusion of wing pattern characters with traditional morphometric characters in multivariate studies.
Two alternative methods for quantifying wing pattern are developed here. The first superimposes a grid onto a wing and the 420 'characters' generated are scanned for pigmentation. A second method recognizes 13 pattern elements from a sequentially arranged series of wings. The latter method was considered superior for several reasons: it uses logically acceptable characters, reduces character redundancy and allows easier and faster coding.
Empirical multivariate studies show the pattern element method to be of taxonomic value in the difficult C. pulicaris group, and to have considerable potential for use in this and other groups of Diptera with patterned wings.