Chironomus (Chironomus) crassiforceps (Kieffer, 1916)

Pal, G. & Hazra, N., 2017, Description of Chironomus bifidus sp. n. and first record of Ch. crassiforceps (Kieffer, 1916) from India (Diptera: Chironomidae: Chironominae), Far Eastern Entomologist 338 (338), pp. 10-15 : 14-15

Chironomus (Chironomus) crassiforceps (Kieffer, 1916)

MATERIAL EXAMINED. India: West Bengal: Berhampur, 24°14ʹN, 88°26ʹE, 03.II

2003, 1 ♂ with larval and pupal exuviae, leg. U. K. Mandal ; Old Malda, 25°05ʹN, 88°13ʹE ,

23.XI 2013, 2 ♂ with larval and pupal exuviae, leg. G. Pal.

REMARKS. This species was described first by Kieffer (1916) as Tendipes crassiforceps and all the life stages were described by Tokunaga (1964). After that several authors described this species under different names from Saipan, Guam, Japan, and Caroline Island.

The species conforms to the same of Kieffer (1916) with minor differences in morphometric variations like body length, AR and LR. The key features of the species are: Male. i) Squama with 7–9 setae, ii) anal tergite band weakly developed, iii) anal point lancet–like, iv) superior volsella slightly curved and uniformly wide and vii) inferior volsella extended up to the tip of gonostylus with one long and 15–20 short incurved apical setae; Pupa. i) Cone shaped cephalic tubercle with sub–apical frontal setae, and ii) caudolateral spur consisting of brush–

like apex with closely apposed 2 spines; Larva. i) Mentum with apparently trifid median and

6 pairs of lateral teeth, and ii) pecten epipharyngis with row of 12–14 teeth.

We wish to express our sincere thanks to Dr. P.K. Chaudhuri, Former Professor, Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India for critically reading the manuscript and giving valuable suggestions. Authors are thankful to the Head, DST–FIST and UGC–SAP–DRS sponsored Department of Zoology, The University of Burdwan, West

Bengal for laboratory facilities.