CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research

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

2023-10-28T11:52:17+00:00

Redescription of the type specimen of Chironomus oppositus Skuse, 1856

2024-03-04T04:49:09+00:00

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

2024-01-16T03:55:05+00:00

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

2024-05-07T08:16:04+00:00

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.