New Zealand Chironomus - C. antipodensis

13. C. antipodensis Sublette & Wirth, 1980

The details of C. antipodensis are included in case the species does occur on the South Island.

There are no specimens in BOLD or GenBank.

Adult:

Male:
Almost entirely blackish brown; haltere, scutellum and narrow posterolateral spot on terga VII and VIII slightly paler. Foretarsus with distinct beard, BR 4.16-6.36.
AR 3.86-4.30; LR1 1.26-1.39; LR2 0.55-0.58; LR3 0.61-0.64.
Wing length 3.86-5.15 mm, VR 0.96 (S&W use Freeman calculation as 1.04)(see Fig. 36c); cross vein dark brown; 20 setae on squamal fringe.
Head: Frontal tubercles 25-31 µm; clypeal width 0.86-0.98 of diameter of antennal pedicel, with 32-62 setae. Palpal proportions (segs 2-5, micron): 76 : 260 : 296 : 316 (holotype). Thoracic setae: Acrostichal - not recorded; Dorsolateral 16-27 in partial double row; Prealar 5-10; Supra-alar 1; Scutellar in partially double staggered row 26-30

Leg proportions (micron) (Holotype):

about 15 sensilla chaetica on mid Ta1

	Fe	Ti	Ta1	Ta2	Ta3	Ta4	Ta5	LR	F/T
PI	95	92	122	75	54	40	20	1.26-1.39	1.03
PII	105	105	59	38	28	19	13	0.55-0.58	1.00
PIII	127	140	86	60	45	26	15	0.61-0.64	0.91

Abdomen heavily setose, each seta in a paler alveolus.

SEMs of hypopygium from Fig. 37 of Sublette & Wirth (1980)

About 7 setae on tergite IX, either in individual pale patches or with a few setae in some patches. Anal point narrow at base, Superior volsella almost tubular - not like any of the Strenzke types, closest to a D-type. Inferior volsella about to tip of anal point and to midpoint of the Gonostylus which is quite swollen, reducing over posterior third.

Male pronotum, female A5 and genitalia (Sublette & Wirth 1980)

Female: (Allotype)
Coloration similar to male, but femora and tibiae paler and terga II-VII with a narrow apical pale fascia.
Wing length 5.82 mm; VR 0.89 (S&W - 1.12); 33 setae in squamal fringe.
Antennal proportions (micron) 204 : 143 : 153 : 153 : 214; AR 0.35; A5/A1 1.05. Palpal proportion (segs 2-5)(micron): 71: 229: 296 : 347.
Thoracic setae: Acrostichal not noted; Dorsolateral 30 in partially double row; Prealar 7; Supra-alar 1: Scutellum with a staggered double row of 30 setae.
Legs similar to those of male: LR1 1.26; LR2 0.49; LR3 0.60.

Pupa: Exuvial length 11.7-12.0 mm. Cephalothorax blackish brown; abdomen paler brown. Cephalic tubercles as Fig. C (below);respiratory base (Fig. F, above) moderately constricted in middle, HR about 2. Shagreen of TII coarse and covering middle third of segment; that of TIII-VI covering central half, VII with a small anterolateral patch of fine shagreen on either side of midline; TVIII largely covered by fine shagreen. Respiratory base partly constricted in middle (Fig. 36F, above), HR about 2.
Spur of segment VIII with about 7 appressed spines; about 80-107 taeniae on swim fin.

Fourth instar larva: a halophilus-type, i.e. some development of posterior Ventral tubules. Head capsule yellowish brown, VHL 0.42-0.43 mm. Mentum (Fig. 36E) appears to be type II-III, with central trifid tooth of type IIA.

Antenna (Fig. A, above) with A1 about 4 times longer than wide; RO about 0.34 up from base, AR about 2. Pecten epipharyngis with about 11 sharp teeth (type 2). Mandible (Fig. B, above) possibly type IIB-C.

Cytology: Not known.

Found: Antipodes Is.:
Type locality - Callitriche-Montia pool, Reef Point; also North Plain, Hut Cove.

[ Return to C. nr. antipodensis | Go to References ]