Polypedilum Kieffer

Chamutiová, Tímea, Hamerlík, Ladislav & Bitušík, Peter, 2020, Subfossil chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) of lakes in the Tatra Mountains an illustrated guide, Zootaxa 4819 (2), pp. 216-264 : 253-254

Polypedilum Kieffer ( Figs 89, 90 )

Head capsule small to large, generally yellow, submentum may be darkly pigmented at different extent, usually just above the occipital margin. Occipital margin usually dark brown to black, sometimes pale. Antenna 5-segmented, one or more segments can be reduced in some species. Premandible with 2 apical teeth and broad basal tooth. Mandible usually with 1 dark dorsal tooth (absent in some species), and 2 (seldom 3) inner teeth. Mentum rather variable in shape, either “ Polypedilum -like” with tall 2 median teeth, first of 6–7 lateral teeth small, second lateral as tall as median teeth, followed by remainder of short laterals; or all mental teeth subequal, decreasing in size gradually. Ventromental plates variable in size and widely separated medially, striae continuous.

Remarks: Larvae of Polypedilum are very heterogeneous. Combination of 5-segmented antenna, 2 inner mandibular teeth and dark dorsal tooth together with the typical “ Polypedilum -like” pattern of mentum (see above) may be sufficient to recognize Polypedilum . Species without “ Polypedilum -like” menta will be distinguished from other genera by 16 subequal mental teeth.

There is only one evidence of the occurrence of Polypedilum (Polypedilum) nubeculosum (Meigen, 1804) in the Tatra Mts. lakes (see Bitušík 2004).

Small number of subfossils were found in the acid lakes of the forest zone.

Two morphotypes were identified following Brooks et al. (2007).

Figures

FIGURES 85–90. Lauterborniella: 85—head capsule (arrow indicates ventromental plate). Microtendipes pedellus-type: 86— head capsule. Pagastiella orophila: 87—head capsule (arrow indicates position of seta submenti). Phaenopsectra flavipes-type: 88—head capsule, A—mandible. Polypedilum nubeculosum-type: 89—head capsule (arrow indicates two inner teeth of the mandible). Polypedilum sordens-type: 90—head capsule (arrow indicates three inner teeth of the mandible).