Polypedilum (Polypedilum) longiforceps Kieffer

Cranston, Peter S., Martin, Jon & Spies, Martin, 2016, Cryptic species in the nuisance midge Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse) (Diptera: Chironomidae) and the status of Tripedilum Kieffer, Zootaxa 4079 (4), pp. 429-447 : 441

Polypedilum (Polypedilum) longiforceps Kieffer

( Fig. 5C )

Polypedilum longiforceps Kieffer, 1921 ; Kieffer (1921b); Freeman (1958).

Polypedilum fuscipenne Kieffer, 1921 ; Kieffer (1921b), synonymised by Freeman (1958), invalid junior homonym of P. fuscipenne (Meigen, 1818) .

Tripedilum armatifrons Kieffer, 1921 ; Kieffer (1921c), syn. Freeman (1958).

Microtendipes longiventris Kieffer, 1922; Kieffer (1922), syn. Freeman (1958).

Material examined. 1♂, ’A–E. Sudan, Yirol, xii.1954, E.T.M. Reid, BM 1954-153’, ‘ BMNH (E) 1240737’ ‘ Polypedilum fuscipenne Kieffer, Euparal slide P.S. Cranston July 2015 ’; 1♂, ‘ Gold Coast, Nangodi, 8.x.1954, G. Crisp, BM 1954-675’, ‘ BMNH (E) 1240739’ ‘ Polypedilum fuscipenne Kieffer, Euparal slide P.S. Cranston July 2015 ’

1♀, ‘ Congo belge, Maka Lualaba, 23.i.1939, H. Brédo’, ‘R. Mus. Hist. Nat. Belg. I.G. 12.290’ ‘ BMNH (E) 1240742’ ‘ Polypedilum fuscipenne Kieffer, Euparal slide P.S. Cranston July 2015 ’.

Notes. The species is readily recognised from Freeman’s key and description. The adult frontal tubercles are 30 µm long; the fore tibial apex carries a darkened triangular spine without any rounded base; the superior volsella is narrow, apically upcurved, and without a distal seta. The pulvillus ( Fig. 5C ) is divided in 2 parts; outer broad and plumose forming thin ‘pad’, extending to near tip of claw; inner part sinuous, multiple branched, subequal to outer; empodium strong, apically plumose and extending beyond pulvillus.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Polypedilum spp., adult pulvilli: of A. P. nubifer (Skuse), B. P. quasinubifer sp. n. C. P. longiforceps Kieffer, D. P. lobiferum Freeman.