The karyotype of Omisus caledonicus (Edwards) (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Karyotype of Omisus caledonicus with 2n = 14 is described, all chromosomes are acrocentric, heterochromatin centromere is vacuolized. The following sequence discovered: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, F1, G1 and G2. Simple inversions are found in chromosomes A-C and G, a complex reconstruction with 3 break points are observed in chromosome D. All reconstructions are large (from 66 to 99% of bands). According to phylogenetic reconstructions for morphological characters (Saether, 1979) and data on karyotypes it may be considered that O. caledonicus is one of much more primitive species in the tribe Chironomini.     

A New Hairy-Winged Pseudorthocladius (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Luxemburg

Pseudorthocladius cristagus sp. n. is described as male imago. It differs from all other members of the genus Pseudorthocladius v. d. Wulp except P. pilosipennis Brundin by having setae on the wing membrane. It can be separated from P. pilosipennis by having a gonostylus with a prominent crista dorsalis and an outer corner or heel. The species was collected with emergence traps from a helocrene spring in northern Luxemburg.     

New species of Oukuriella (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Costa Rica

The males of three new species of Oukuriella Epler are described from Costa Rica. The genus had been previously recorded only from South America. Oukuriella annamae sp. nov. has genitalia similar to O. albistyla Epler, but differs in having transverse bands on abdominal segments In, IV, VI and VII, a lower AR, no humeral setae and fewer dorsocentral setae. Oukuriella costaricense sp. nov. differs from other described species in the genus by its brown abdomen, unnotched posterior margin of tergite IX and distinctive superior volsella, with its sharply bent, thin upper arm directed medially, and digitus small and directed caudad. Oukuriella rushi sp. nov. has apices of femora tipped with brown, a brown abdomen and distinctive superior volsella, with upper arm shorter and broader, and digitus longer then O. costaricense. The female of Oukuriella costaricense is also described. This is the first female described for the genus. Based on male and female genitalia, Oukuriella is closely related to Epedilum Townes and Zavreliella Kieffer. A key is provided to separate the males of the six described species.     

New records of Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) from India

Adult males of Polypedilum (Polypedilum) exterflexus n. sp., P. (Tripodura) rectangulum n. sp. and life stages of P. (Tripodura) pruina Freeman are described from India. In addition, one species, Polypedilum clavipennae n. sp. with all the life stages not assigned to any one of the existing subgenera is also described, and it may be justified to erect it as a new subgenus in future.     

Aagaardia,a New Holarctic Orthoclad Genus (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Diagnoses of all stages of the new genus Aagaardia are given. The genus includes A. sivertseni (Aagaard), originally described in Eukiefferiella Thienemann, from Norway and Finland and described in all stages; A. protensa sp.n. from Finland and A. triangulata sp.n. from Turkey described as male imagines; and A. longicalcis sp.n. from Canada described in both sexes. The male imagines share bare eyes, strong punctation on wings, bare squama, extended costa, triangular gonostylus and two groups of extremely strong and sclerotized virga. The pupa and the female genitalia show relationship with Paratrissocladius Zav[rcirc]el, while the larva is very similar to the larvae of Psilometriocnemus Sæther and Platysmittia Sæther. Parsimony analyses suggest that Aagaardia forms the plesiomorphic sister genus to the rest of the Heterotrissocladius group combined.     

Three new chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae) from the New Zealand seashore

The adults of Telmatogeton mortoni n.sp. (Clunioninae) and Smittia reinga n.sp. and Smittia whangaroa n.sp. (Orthocladiinae), from the northern New Zealand seashore, are described and figured.     

Limnophyes (Diptera: Chironomidae) from northwestern Russia

The nominal family group taxa of the Ephemeroptera are listed along with their authors, dates of publication and bibliographic references.     

Activity patterns ofChironomus yoshimatsui (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The activity patterns ofChironomus yoshimatsui were investigated experimentally to clarify whether temperature conditions experienced by the larvae and adults had an effect on the timing of adult activities. It was observed that when both larvae and adults were reared at a low temperature of 13°C, the peak of adult evening activities appeared just before simulated nightfall whereas when larvae and/or adults were reared at a high temperature of 23°C, the peak of activities occurred just after simulated night-fall. These results agreed well with field observations of seasonal changes in the timing of evening swarming and mating of this insect. The mechanism of regulating the timing of activities in accordance with temperature conditions is also discussed.     

Food preferences of tanypodinae larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Analyses of the gut contents of larvae of three species of Tanypodinae, collected from four sites in north-east England and Scotland, invariably showed small particles (1–10 µm²), predominantly of detritus, to be more abundant than large particles (10–100 µm²), mostly algae and diatoms. No animal remains, such as carapaces, head capsules and chaetae, or vascular plant fragments were found in any of the intestines. In contrast, food-choice and growth experiments suggested that animal food (particularly Tubificidae and Chironominae larvae) was important in the tanypod diet. In the food-choice experiments, six different foods offered to small (4–7 mm long) and to large (8–12 mm long) larvae of Procladius choreus Meigen, were chosen in the following order: live Tubificidae spp.; detritus; live Chironominae larvae; a mixture of algae and diatoms; live Ostracoda spp.; and live Cladocera spp. However, when the results of the individual choices were examined, it was clear that the small larvae had consumed greater amounts of the small types of food (i.e. detritus, algae and diatoms) in comparison to the large larvae. In the growth experiment, those larvae of P. choreus reared solely on Tubificidae, detritus or Chironominae larvae thrived, while those fed on algae and diatoms, ostracods or cladocerans grew more slowly and fewer survived the experimental period.It was concluded that although Tanypodinae larvae are primarily predators with definite food preferences in ideal foraging conditions, in adverse conditions they will utilize a range of available stand-by foods, the most important of which appears to be detritus.     

Four New Genera and Species of Chironomidae (Diptera) from Southern Africa

Four new genera are described for four new species of Chironomidae from southern Africa. Paradoxocladius mangoldi (Orthocladiinae) is based on all life stages, Lunditendipes tropicum (Chironominae) on male adults, Xestotendipes sufflavus (Chironominae) on male and female adults, and Zuluchironomus demoori (Chironominae) on male and female adults. A highly apomorphic larva with a cleft mid-mentum, possibly belonging to Z. demoori, is also described. Some ecological details are given.     

The identity of Dactylocladius commensalis (Diptera: Chironomidae) revealed

A new dipteran species, Parapsectra wagneri sp. n. (Chironomidae), is described from emergence traps on Breitenbach, Schlitz, Germany. It differs in antennal ratio and characteristics of the genitalia from the three known species.     

Organic matter processing by chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae)

In laboratory experiments, we used fluorescent dye markers to investigate processing of organic matter by larvae of Psectrocladius limbatellus (Holm.) (Diptera: Chironomidae). 59% of the organic matter used was incorporated into tubes, 39% was present in faecal pellets (both after 24 h), and 2% was found in the larval gut at the end of experiments. Ingested matter passed through the gut rapidly, resulting in the gut being emptied more than 20 times each day. Further 24-h experiments using dye-marked faecal pellets showed that 6% of pellets produced were re-ingested and 12% were incorporated into tubes. There was no preference for conditioned faecal pellets as food over those that had recently been egested and tubes also provided a food reserve on which larvae feed. Chironomid larvae recycle organic matter resulting in its mineralization and their ‘engineering’ has a dramatic effect on the substratum. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phylogeny of the subfamilies of Chironomidae (Diptera)

Summary The phylogeny of the subfamilies of Chironomidae are cladistically analysed using parsimony. A data matrix is presented and some characters discussed. Different outgroup taxa, constraints and options are used, characters unordered or ordered, weighted or unweighted, the results reweighted or not and the results discussed. Telmatogetoninae in all cladograms forms the sister group of the remaining subfamilies. Aphroteniinae in some cladograms forms the sister group of all subfamilies except Telmatogetoninae, whereas in other cladograms, including the preferred cladogram, it is part of Tanypodoinae, which otherwise includes Podonominae, Usumbaromyiinae and Tanypodinae. Chilenomyiinae is basal in Tanypodoinae in some cladograms. In most cladograms, including the preferred cladogram, it is basal in Chironomoinae, which also includes Buchonomyiinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae. The preferred cladogram is compared with the relationships between different subfamilies suggested by previous authors.     

Two New Tanytarsus Species (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Brazil,with Reduced Median Volsella

The male adults Tanytarsus monospinosus sp. n. and Tanytarsus tumultuarius sp. n. from Brazil are described as new to science, and the species Tanytarsus abnormis Lehmann is transferred to Neostempellina Reiss. The species share the reduction of the median volsella, a genital feature well developed amongst most species of Tanytarsini. There are no obvious close relatives amongst previously described Tanytarsus species, and a thorough phylogenetic analysis including the immature stages will be necessary. However, because there are large differences between these two new species in most morphological characters, it can be assumed that they are not closely related, and the loss of the median volsella thus is unlikely to be a synapomorphy.     

The polytene chromosomes of Nilodorum biroi (Kieffer) (Diptera: Chironomidae)

The polytene chromosomes of the salivary glands of Nilodorum biroi (Kieffer) comprise three long metacentric or submetacentric chromosomes. It is considered that this is a derived condition from a diploid number of 8, by the tandem fusion of a small acrocentric element (C) to a metacentric chromosome (AB). A standard chromosome map for the genus is provided and the chromosomal polymorphism of Indian and Australian populations is described.     

New species and records of Parametriocnemus Goetghebuer from China (Diptera,Chironomidae)

The Chinese species of Parametriocnemus Goetghebuer are reviewed. Two species, Parametriocnemus fortissp. n. and Parametriocnemus vittatussp. n. are described and illustrated as males, and Parametriocnemus ornaticornis (Kieffer), Parametriocnemus scotti (Freeman) and Parametriocnemus brundini Sinharay & Chaudhuri are recorded from China for the first time. A key to the males of the seven Chinese Parametriocnemus speciesis given.