CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research

Two species of the genus Nilotanypus (Diptera: Chironomidae) in Europe

Ivan Skála — 2024-06-27

Redescription of the type specimen of Chironomus oppositus Skuse, 1856

Jon Martin — 2024-07-23

The type specimen of Chironomus oppositus Walker, 1856 is redescribed in more detail than in previous publications. This redescription is necessary because the original type has specimen has now been lost. The basis for allocating this name to an existing species is outlined.

A new species of Petalocladius Sublette & Wirth, 1972 (Diptera, Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) from the Dominican Republic, with an emended generic diagnosis

Trond Andersen — 2024-03-20

Petalocladius dominiensis Andersen & Baranov sp. n. is described and figured based on an adult male collected in the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve in the Dominican Republic. The new species can be separated from its only congener, P. setosus Sublette & Wirth, 1972 from Jamaica, as it is slightly smaller with about 115 dorsocentrals compared to 56 in P. setosus. The inferior volsella is broadly subtriangular, while more lingulate in P. setosus, and the gonostylus has a small, but distinct megaseta and a subapical brush of spine-like seta, which apparently lack in P. setosus. The generic diagnosis is emended including the new species, and the systematic position is briefly discussed.

Clarification of the status of Chironomus javanus Kieffer, 1924 and C. vitellinus Freeman, 1961

Jon Martin — 2024-07-23

The status of the closely related species Chironomus javanus Kieffer, 1924 and C. vitellinus Freeman, 1961 has been largely confused and C. vitellinus even considered to be a junior synonym of a very widely distributed C. javanus. However, a comparison of the available mitochondrial COI barcode sequences reveals that there are two groups of sequences with consistent differences between them. Further, the geographic origins of these sequences indicates that C. vitellinus is much more widely distributed than C. javanus. This interpretation is confirmed from the details of various descriptions, with differences particularly in the male hypopygium and the larval premandible. Chironomus vitellinus is also found in the New World in Florida and Puerto Rico, indicating that the species is probably distributed through most of the tropical region. However, C. sp. “Florida” of Epler (2001), known only as a larva, and with a multi-toothed premandible has been determined to be a separate species.

Redescription of marine Thalassosmittia nemalione (Tokunaga, 1936) (Diptera, Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) from the East Coast of China

Zixuan Li — 2024-08-17

Thalassosmittia nemalione (Tokunaga, 1936) is redescribed based on a male from the east coast of China. This is the first record of marine Thalassosmittia from the coast of China.

Redescription of adults of Kribiodorum belalong Cranston (Diptera, Chironomidae, Chironomini) from Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia

Hongqu Tang — 2024-10-19

The adult male of Kribiodorum belalong Cranston (Diptera: Chironomidae) was described only from a teneral adult specimen along with pupae. Certain key characters are unavailable or unmeasurable in the teneral form, e.g., wing dimensions, abdominal coloration pattern, and fine details of the hypopygium including the dorsal shape of the anal point. Here we redescribe and figure the adult male, and describe and illustrate the adult female of Kribiodorum belalong for the first time, both based on specimens recently collected in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. We provide some comments on the putative phylogenetic position of Kribiodorum Kieffer.

Description of the pupa of "Diamesinae Genus P" Doughman, 1985 (Diptera: Chironomidae), with comments on habitat, distribution and further characterization of the larva

Broughton A. Caldwell — 2024-12-03

The pupal stage of “Diamesinae Genus P” Doughman, 1985 is described from specimens collected in northwest Georgia, USA. The pupa is recognized as Diamesinae by dorso- central thoracic setation with no prealar setae and lack of hooklets on tergite II. Also, the anal lobe has apical short tubercles and 3 hooked macrosetae with very distinctive apices. However, leg sheath arrangement differs slightly from described Diamesini with fore and mid leg sheaths directed laterally at the wing apex and frontal setae are lacking, but for now this is considered variation within the tribe. The strikingly unusual larva is recognized as Diamesinae by the annulate third antennal segment as well as characteristics of the premento-hyphoryngeal complex. The larva fits within Diamesini in the most recent keys of Holarctic genera. Currently known distribution, habitat and additional larval morphological details are noted.