Paramerina Fittkau, 1962

Cranston, Peter S., 2007, The Chironomidae Larvae Associated With The Tsunami-Impacted Waterbodies Of The Coastal Plain Of Southwestern Thailand, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (2), pp. 231-244 : 234-237

Paramerina Fittkau

( Fig. 10 )

Paramerina is a worldwide genus, quite speciose, and with larvae tolerant of a wide range of environmentally deleterious conditions. Paramerina aucta (Johannsen) and P. dolosa (Johannsen) from Indonesia, assigned to the genus by Fittkau (1962) are described in their immature stages by Zavrelˇ (1933). Paramerina ignobilis (Johannsen) from Sumatra is undescribed in immature stages but appears to be restricted to tree holes from Indonesia to northern Australia. Species discrimination in Paramerina is based largely on subtle differences in the pupa with little or no ability to confirm or support larval features.

Thai specimens here allocated to Paramerina pose some problems: although usually the genus is recognisable by the palp divided into two parts, with a large ring organ lying between the two parts, this feature may be indistinct or not present. Without this it, larval separation from Zavrelimyia may not be possible: both have similar mouthparts (ligula and mandible), similar cephalic setal patterns and a darkened posterior to the procercus. An often-cited difference is the posterior parapod claws all being pale in Zavrelimyia and including one small clearly bifid claw. Ambiguously placed specimens from Thailand have a contrastingly dark posterior parapod claw among simple claws, but an apparently undivided palp.

Few larvae have been found only in unimpacted dilute sites, with conductivities of 35–168 µS. cm−1 and dissolved solids of 17–84 ppm.

Figures

Figs. 1–12. Thai post-tsunami Chironomidae. Clinotanypus sp.: 1, lateral body setal fringe; 2, dorsomentum; 3, ventral head (anterior). Tanypus sp.: 4, ligula. Fittkauimyia sp.: 5, ligula, pecten hypopharyngis; 6, mandible; 7, mentum. Ablabesmyia sp.: 8. maxillary palp. Monopelopia sp.: 9, maxillary palp. Ventral head setae and pit of: 10, Paramerina sp., 11, Ablabesmyia sp. Monopelopia sp.: 12, posterior parapod claw. Abbreviations: ant, antenna; dmt, dorsomentum teeth; fr, fringe; lig, ligula; m, mentum; md, mandible; mp, maxillary palp; ph, pecten hypopharyngis; RO, ring organ of maxilla; SSm, seta submenta; S9, S10, cephalic setae 9, 10; VP, ventral pit.