Australian Chironomus: C. 'queenslandicus' adult

C. 'queenslandicus' manuscript name

Adult

Male terminalia of C. 'queenslandicus'.
Note the distinctive short, hairy superior volsella (right).

Male:
Face, antennae, palps, brown.  Frontal tubercles present.  AR about 2.84 - 3.1.
Palp proportions (segs 2-5) (micron) 40 ; 170 ; 165+ : 250.  Clypeal setae - 22.
Thorax green, stripes reddish brown with a dark spot at the posterior end of the lateral stripes.
Thoracic setae: Achrostichal - 16, Dorsolateral 11-13, Prealar - abt 4, Scutellar - 2 approximate rows, Ant. - 10, Post. - 12.
Wings pale, halteres greenish.  Wing length 3.20 mm; wing width 0.83 mm; VR 1.11.
Legs pale.  Anterior basitarsus not bearded.  Ant LR = 1.76-1.80; F/T = 1.43; Ant Ta4 longer than Ta3.
Leg proportions (micron):

	Fe	Ti	Ta1	Ta2	Ta3	Ta4	Ta5	LR	F/T	BR
PI	1320	920	1620	850	670	710	280	1.76-1.80	1.43	1.73
PII	1310	1075	720	405	245	180	135	0.66	1.22	-
PIII	1415	1330	1050	565	400	270	170	0.79	1.06

Abdomen dark, slightly paler at posterior of segments; about 9 setae medially on 9th tergite.
Male terminalia distinctive due to short hairy superior volsella (SV), rather like that of Xenochironomus, and therefore does not fit any of Strenzke's types. This appendage appears to have an extensive membranous region which can fold rather differently during slide-mounting and so lead to quite variable appearance of the SV. Setae of inferior volsellae unbranched. Anal point broad, also as in Xenochironomus; styles only slightly tapered at the ends.

Female:
Wing length: 3.26 mm.  Wing width abt 0.85-0.86 mm.  VR 0.87-0.90.  Abt 22 setae on squamal fringe.
Antennal segments (µm, % neck in brackets) (2): 158 (24) : 118 (40) : 118 (40) : 103 (35) : 229.  Frontal tubercles: about 18-38 µm long, 10-13 µm wide.
Palps (µm) (2): 39 : 41 : 157 : 212 : 307; P5/P4 1.39-1.52; P5/P3 1.89-2.03.  Clypeal setae - abt 18-20.
Thoracic setae: Achrostichal - abt. 17, Humeral 5-6 linear, Dorsocentral 11-14 (Humeral+dorsocentral 17-20), Prealar - abt 3-4, Scutellar - 2 approximate rows, Ant.- 6-9, Post. - 13-14 (total 20-22).

Leg proportions (microns) (2):

	Fe	Ti	Ta1	Ta2	Ta3	Ta4	Ta5	LR	F/T	Ta4/Ti
PI	1268	907	1667	838	690	870	345	1.77-1.90	1.39-1.40	0.95-0.96
PII	1271	1098	692	341	240	168	126	0.50-0.62	1.14-1.18	0.14-0.16
PIII	1385	1318	1044	522	395	247	161	0.79	1.05	0.19-0.23

Fore Ta4 longer than Ta3 and Ta5, about same length as Ta2.BR 2.0-2.6. About 38-43 sensilla chaetica on hind Ta1.

Segment X a moderately broad crescent (l/w at broadest point about 5.3) with about 6-7 setae; 2-3 setae on Gonocoxite IX.

Cercus and segment X (at left) of C. 'queenslandicus'.

Cercus essentially rectangular but with curved posterior margin, longest anterior/posterior, sometimes with a slight/moderate bulge at ventral base.

About 7 setae on Gonopophysis VIII, 2-3 on Gonopophysis IX.

Types: Holotype male: 4 km n. Fernvale, Queensland (27.43°S, 152.65°E), AQ.19.1, 8.vi.1968 (leg. Jon Martin) reared male #1 with pupal and larval exuviae, slide mounted.
Allotype female: same data as Holotype male, reared female #1, with pupal and larval exuviae, slide mounted.
Paratypes: reared adult males and females, larval bodies with chromosome spreads, all slide mounted.
Holotype male, allotype female and paratypes will be lodged in the Australian National Insect Collection.

Found: New South Wales - ¿Lake Ainsworth.
Queensland - 4 Km n. Fernvale; North Stradbroke Island.

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