Macropelopiini, Zavrel, 1929

Published, First, 2007, Chironomid midges from early Eocene amber of France (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1404, pp. 1-66 : 11-12

Macropelopiini genus and species A

Description: Head deformed, 0.26 mm long; ocelli absent; antenna 0.63 mm long, much longer than head, distinctly hairy, with 14 flagellomeres, all covered with long setae (shortest 0.008 mm long, longest 0.31 mm long), pedicel broad and short, rounded, with 2 setae, 13 th flagellomere longest, 0.31 mm long; 14 th flagellomere with apical nipple and subapical seta; eye bare but deformed, with apically expanded dorsomedial extension, with 2 rows of ommatidia at minimum width; mouthparts lacking functional mandibles; all palpomeres with numerous setae, palp segment 3 cylindrical; nearly 2 long postocular setae; inner vertical and outer vertical setae present, frontal setae not visible. Thorax 0.58 mm long, 0.31 mm wide, 0.55 mm high; postnotum bare, with distinct longitudinal median groove; surface of scutellum with 4 or more long setae; scutal tubercle absent; numerous prealar setae and 1 supraalar setae; numerous long anterior acrostichal and dorsocentral setae present; postanepisternal and preepisternal setae absent. Wing macropterous, 1.1 mm long, 0.28 mm wide, hyaline, densely covered with macrotrichia; anal vein An 2 absent; radius with 3 branches R 1, R 2+3, and R 4+5; R 2+3 well separated from R 1 and R, R 2+3 apically forked into R 2 and R 3; R 2 0.01 mm long, ending in R 1, R 3 0.1 mm long, ending before costa; apex of costa not visible; only M 1+2 and M 3+4 present; cross­vein MCu present; cubital fork proximal to and beyond cross­vein MCu, cross­vein RM distal to MCu. Halter 0.15 mm long. Fore femur 0.46 mm long, tibia 0.47 mm long, tarsus 0.9 mm long; mid femur 0.5 mm long, tibia 0.43 mm long, tarsus 0.8 mm long, hind femur 0.43 mm long, tibia 0.46 mm long, tarsus 0.92 mm long; all tibial spurs with lateral teeth, comb­like; 4 th tarsomeres of all legs cylindrical, not cordiform; hind tibial comb of 1 row, small pulvilli present. Abdomen 1.08 mm long; gonostylus strongly curved, 0.07 mm long, 0.01 mm wide, distinctly shorter than gonocoxite (0.12 mm long, 0.06 mm wide), numerous long setae on outer surface of gonocoxites; anal point and volsella not visible.

4+5

Discussion: The placement of this fossil in the Tanypodinae is supported by the characters stated above. It falls in a group of genera with wings densely covered with macrotrichia, i.e., Apsectrotanypus , Alotanypus Roback, 1971 , Bethbilbeckia Fittkau & Murray, 1988 , Brundiniella , Derotanypus Roback, 1971 , Fittkauimyia Karunakaran, 1969 , Macropelopia Thienemann, 1916 , Psectrotanypus Kieffer, 1909 , Palaeotanypus Meunier, 1904 , Gressittius Sublette & Wirth, 1980 , Kamelopelopia Harrison, 1978 , Lepidopelopia Harrison, 1970 , Libanopelopia Veltz, Azar & Nel, 2007 , Cretapelopia Veltz, Azar & Nel, 2007 , Waldelius Veltz, Azar & Nel, 2007, Radotanypus Fittkau & Murray, 1985 , Guassutanypus Roque & Trivinho­Strixino, 2003 ( Meunier 1904; Harrison 1970, 1978; Sublette & Wirth 1980; Murray & Fittkau 1989; Roque & Trivinho­Strixino 2003; Veltz et al. 2007). Within this group, placement within the genera Apsectrotanypus and Guassutanypus can be excluded because of their short to very short and robust gonostyli. Precise affinities cannot be determined because the apex of the costa is not preserved; thus, it is not possible to determine whether or not it is long. Nevertheless, the genitalia differ from those of the three Brundiniella species from the same amber. Thus, we consider it as Macropelopiini genus and species undetermined.

Material: Specimen PA 276 1/2 (male).