Abstract
Two new species of tiie subgenus Atrichopogon (Meloehelea) from Patagonia, Atrichopogon (M.) macrodentatum from the Nothofagus forests, and A. (M.) monomorphicus from steppe areas in the ecotone with forests, are described and a key of the Patagonianspecies of the subgenus is provided. The diverse biting midge genus Atrichopogon Kieffer contains 512 species worldwide (Borkent, 2009). As indicated by Borkent & Picado (2004) found little to no support for distinguishing subgenera based on morphological features of the adults of the Neotropical Region. On the other hand, adults of the subgenus Meloehelea Wirth, which includes ectoparasitic species that feed on the haemolymph of blister beetles (Coleoptera: Meloidae) and false blister beetles (Oedemeridae), are distinguished by other authors by their morphological characters such as tarsal ratio (TR), number of mandibular teeth, proboscis length, presence of two well developed spermathecae, etc. (Wirth 1956, 1980, Szadziewski et al. 1995, Szadziewskiet al. 2007, Tothova et al 2009). The subgenus is represented in the American fauna by 8 species, 4 Nearctic, 2 Holarctic, and the remaining 2 inhabiting Patagonia in the Neotropics (Tothova et al, 2009).
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