Chironomus flaviplumus Type BUncertain synonym: C. incertipenis aut.Ð not Chaudhuri et al. (1992)? C. ramosus sensu Laviad-Shirit et al. (2020) and Sela et al. (2021) - not Chaudhuri et al. (1992) Korean specimens under the name C. flaviplumus (GenBank accession numbers JF412075 - 077) are Chironomus yoshimatsui. This type was identified as C. flaviplumus by H. Yamamoto. BLAST comparisons of available sequences in GenBank or the BOLD Database reveals that the species is widely distributed from India (sometimes as C. ramosus), Japan, Pakistan (often incorrectly as C. incertipenis), Thailand (as Chironomus sp.). Previously called C. species PK2 and PK7. Also C. apicatus sensu Karunakaran (1969) but the Johannsen description is insufficient to clearly associate his specimens with this species as they have a higher LR and are associated with occurrence in warm, acidic pools, so they are probably another member of the C. flaviplumus-group. The ÒC. ramosusÓ of Laviad-Shirit et al. (2020) and Sela et al. (2021) are this species and do not fit the original description of C. ramosus Chaudhuri et al. (1992), which has a higher AR and a lower LR (see below). The species is in BOLD Bin: BOLD:AAW3997 Adult AR 2.94 (2.85-3.05), LR 1.65 (1.59-1.75). Wing length 3.31 (2.82-3.57) mm., width 0.78 (0.68-0.88) mm., VR 1.02 (0.95-1.05); squamal fringe 18.5 (12-22); SCf on brachiolum 3.0 (2-5). Head: Frontal tubercles 15-51 µm and 1.15-2.8 times longer than wide, palpal proportions (µm) 51 (48-55) : 57 (50-60) : 213 (205-240) : 222 (205-235) : 349 (326-371); P5/P4 1.43-1.61; P5/P3 1.59-1.81. Clypeus as wide as the antennal pedicel, with 21 (19-24) setae. Thoracic setae: acrostichal about 14 (12-15) in double staggered row; dorsolateral about 20.3 (14-26) in one to three rows; prealar 5.8 (5-6); scutellar anterior row of 10 (8-12) smaller setae, sometimes with abt 2 in a further anterior row, posterior row of 16 (10-29) larger setae (total setae 20-37). Legs yellowish, becoming darker on the tarsi. Foretarsus without a beard. Lengths (micron) and proportions:
 Abdomen with dark oval markings on tergites III-V or VI, with others light brown. About 13 (5-19) setae in multiple pale areas on TIX.  Male hypopygium and superior volsella of C. flaviplumus Type B Note that the anal point is not dark and the Superior volsella is strongly bent and "beaked" The anal point narrow at base and does not appear to be darkened or sharply downturned. Gonostylus moderately swollen and narrows markedly over about posterior third. Female:  Genital region of pharate female It is not obvious that this species is conspecific with C. incertipenis as suggested by entries in the BOLD Bin. The two species are similar in many aspects and the comparison of the adult of C. incertipenis to C. yoshimatsui is consistent with it being a member of the "flaviplumus-group". Many of the distinguishing features of C. incertipenis in the original description as C. niger are typical of the group, and consistent with those of this species, but two adult characters of C. incertipenis suggest it is distinct from the present species: 1. the anal point of the adult male is dark brown and sharply downturned, cf. the more usual yellow brown of Type B; and 2. the Superior Volsella of C. incertipenis is described as gently curved while that of the present species is strongly curved and beaked. However, the type of C. incertipenis should be re-examined to confirm the accuracy of the original description. Found: India - Jammu & Kashmir: Kabeer colony, Jammu; Deoli Village; Farooq Nagar (abt. 28.30°N,76.80°E), Jammu; Kabeer colony DNA Sequence: |
Revised: 31 August 2023
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