taxonID	type	description	language	source
03A520641B68057C6AA48BDDFF7FF17E.taxon	description	(Figs 1 A; 2; 3)	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B68057C6AA48BDDFF7FF17E.taxon	materials_examined	Examined material. 2 larvae (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: CHLA 517, CHLA 557): China, Sichuan, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Huidong, Canyuhezhen, 26.485 ° N, 102.584 ° E, 1406 m a. s. l., hand net, 24. X. 2019, leg. Xin-Yu Ge; 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: CHLA 549): China, Sichuan, Yibin, Pingshan, 26.932 ° N, 99.958 ° E, 1783 m a. s. l., hand net, 19. X. 2019, leg. Xin-Yu Ge; 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: CHLA 1007): China, Hainan, Sanya, 18.346 ° N, 109.524 ° E, 21 m a. s. l., hand net, 25. IV. 2022, leg. Hong-Ying Sun; 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: CHLA 1021): China, Hainan, Sanya, 18.388 ° N, 109.451 ° E, 169 m a. s. l., hand net, 16. VI. 2022, leg. Hong-Ying Sun; 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: XL 2803): China, Guizhou, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Leishan, Leigongshan Natural Reserve, Guluncun, Yegongzhai, 26.444 ° N, 108.060 ° E, 786 m a. s. l., hand net, 22. VIII. 2019, leg. Hai-Jun Yu; 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: ZJ 921): China, Zhejiang, Wenzhou, Yueqing, Furong, Benjue temple, 28.299883 ° N, 120.991455 ° E, 64 m a. s. l., hand net, 31. III. 2019, leg. Xiao-Long Lin; 5 larvae (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: NLCH 796, NLCH 804, NLCH 812, NLCH 813, NLCH 814): China, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, Longnan, Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve, Daqiutian, Qiu River, 24.583 ° N, 114.446 ° E, 400 m a. s. l., hand net, 21. VIII. 2020, leg. Xiao-Long Lin. 2 larvae (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: HJR 230, HJR 246): China, Hubei, Shiyan, Zhushan, Loutai, Qinyu River, 32.335 ° N, 110.297 ° E, 400 m a. s. l., hand net, 19. VII. 2020, leg. Zhen-Yuan Liu. 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: HJR 298): China, Shaanxi, Shangluo, Shangzhou, Yancun, Jinqian River, 33.681 ° N, 109.844 ° E, 978 m a. s. l., hand net, 19. VII. 15, leg. Zhen-Yuan Liu.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B68057C6AA48BDDFF7FF17E.taxon	description	Description. Fourth instar larva (n = 8). Total length 3.3 − 5.6, 4.3 mm. Body yellow with brown thoracic striations. Head Capsule (Fig. 2 A). Length 353 − 435, 388 μm, width 250 – 311, 281 μm, length / width 1.24 − 1.46, 1.33; mental and mandibular teeth dark brown. Antenna (Figs 2 B, 3 A). Composed of one basal segment bearing five antennal segments. Segment 1 demonstrates significant elongation and an increased diameter compared to segment 2, with segment 2 exceeding the length of segments 3 − 5. Segment 5 marginally surpasses segment 4 in linear extension. Blade length 21 − 27, 24 μm. Lauterborn organ clearly visible on segment 3. Antennal segment length (in μm): 47 − 61, 54; 17 − 23, 19; 3 − 7, 5; 4 − 6, 5; 4 − 7, 6. AR: 1.30 – 1.83, 1.54. AAR: 0.34 − 0.58, 0.42. LOR: 0.22 − 0.33, 0.27. Mandible (Figs 2 C, 3 B). The mandible has one apical tooth and three inner teeth, and the length of the apical tooth is slightly less than the total width of the three inner teeth. Seta interna 5 – 6 branches, simple. Mandible 91 − 117, 102 μm long and 24 − 28, 26 μm wide. Seta subdentalis 8 − 10, 9 μm. Labrum. Pecten epipharyngis has three teeth; the middle tooth is straight, while the teeth on both sides are more curved. The three teeth are of comparable length, but the teeth on both sides are wider than the middle teeth. SI is bifurcated and other sensory bristles are simple. Premandible (Fig 3 C) is single, and it only has one apical tooth without clear seta interna or inner teeth. Premandible length 49 − 60, 55 μm. premandibular apical tooth length 13 − 19, 15 μm. Mentum (Figs 2 D, 3 D). The mentum exhibits a bilaterally symmetrical structure comprising two median teeth, two accessory teeth, and five paired lateral teeth. The ventromental plate demonstrates prominent developmental characteristics, featuring a rounded basal configuration that collectively forms a distinct tear-shaped morphology. Mental setae present as robust chaetae, predominantly distributed along the mental extension. Submental setae are positioned in a ventral orientation relative to the mentum. Mentum median teeth 21 − 24, 22 μm long. VMp distance ventromental plate 32 − 45, 41 μm. VMp / MMT 1.51 − 2.86, 1.95. Mentum 77 − 92, 85 μm long. Postmentum 114 − 143, 125 μm long. Body. Procercus 18 − 22, 20 μm wide and 26 − 30, 28 μm long. Anal tubules are shorter than posterior parapods and the average length is around 127 μm. The average length of claws is 51 μm.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B68057C6AA48BDDFF7FF17E.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The larva of R. emeiensis can be distinguished from other related species by AR: 1.30 − 1.83, AAR: 0.34 − 0.58, LOR: 0.22 − 0.33, short antennal lobe, SI bifurcated, the mentum with two median teeth, large mental accessory teeth, and light postmentum color.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B68057C6AA48BDDFF7FF17E.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Guangdong, Guizhou, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang), Thailand, Vietnam.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B6C057E6AA48CC2FC12F1B2.taxon	description	(Figs 1 B; 4; 5)	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B6C057E6AA48CC2FC12F1B2.taxon	materials_examined	Examined material. 1 Larva (SHOU & BOLD sample ID: HJR 297): China, Shaanxi, Shangluo, Shangzhou, Yancun, Jinqian River, 33.681 ° N, 109.844 ° E, 978 m a. s. l., hand net, 15. VII. 2019, leg. Zhen-Yuan Liu.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B6C057E6AA48CC2FC12F1B2.taxon	description	Description. Fourth instar larva (n = 1). Total length 4.4 mm. Body yellow with brown thoracic striations. Head Capsule (Fig. 4 A). Length 370 μm, width 308 μm, length / width 1.20; mental and mandibular teeth dark brown. Antenna (Fig. 5 A). Composed of one basal segment bearing five antennal segments. Segment 5 is slightly longer than segment 4. Segment 1 significantly longer and thicker than segment 2. Lauterborn organ clearly visible, shorter than segment 3. Blade length 25 μm. Ring organ located at basal segment margin. Antennal segment length (in μm): 15; 63; 22; 6; 9; 4. AR: 1.55. AAR: 0.25. LOR: 0.16. Mandible (Figs 4 B, 5 B). Apical tooth with three inner teeth, apical tooth length slightly less than combined inner teeth width. Seta interna with five branches. Mandible length 125 μm; width 28 μm; seta subdentalis length 8 μm. Labrum. Pecten epipharyngis with three teeth: median tooth straight, lateral teeth distinctly curved. All teeth are comparable in length, lateral teeth broader than median teeth. SI bifurcated and other sensory bristles single. Premandible (Figs 4 C, 5 C) single-toothed apically, lacking seta interna or inner teeth. Premandible length 55 μm; premandible teeth 25 μm. Mentum (Figs 4 D, 5 D). 2 median teeth, 2 accessory teeth, 5 lateral tooth pairs. Ventromental plate well-developed with rounded base (teardrop-shaped). Mental setae robust, primarily on mental extension. Setae submenti submental. Median teeth length 38 μm; VMp width 56 μm; VMp / MMT: 1.46; mentum length 117 μm; postmentum 110 μm.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B6C057E6AA48CC2FC12F1B2.taxon	discussion	Remarks. The larva of R. taiwanensis can be distinguished from other related species by AR: 1.55, AAR: 0.25, LOR: 0.16, the small accessory teeth of the mentum, short antennal lobe, and the dark colored postmentum.	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
03A520641B6C057E6AA48CC2FC12F1B2.taxon	distribution	Distribution. China (Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang).	en	Chen, Jia-Yu, Zhang, Zhi-Chao, Lin, Xiao-Long (2025): Description of the larval morphology of Rheocricotopus emeiensis and R. taiwanensis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa 5647 (4): 387-394, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.4.6
