Microtendipes tuberosus Qi & Wang, 2006

Jin, Haobo, Wang, Yiyi, Song, Chao & Qi, Xin, 2025, First morphological description of the larval stages of three Microtendipes species (Diptera, Chironomidae) from South China with molecular confirmation, ZooKeys 1255, pp. 27-40 : 27-40

Microtendipes tuberosus Qi & Wang, 2006

Figs 5 B – E , 6

Microtendipes tuberosus Qi & Wang, 2006: 43.

Material examined

( N = 3): 1 larva, China, Zhejiang Province, Lishui City, Suichang County, Jiulong Mountain National Nature Reserve , 370 m a. s. l., 28.408°N, 118.811°E, 29. VIII. 2020, C. Song ; 2 larvae, China, Zhejiang Province, Lishui City, Suichang County, Jiulong Mountain National Nature Reserve , 400 m a. s. l., 28.380°N, 118.799°E, 29. VIII. 2020, C. Song .

Diagnosis

(Fig. 5 B, C ). Mentum dark brown, with median teeth concolorous with lateral teeth; median tooth slightly shorter than the second lateral tooth. The cephalic capsule is light brown. Total length 2.1–3.7, 2.8 mm; head capsule length 375.0–400.0, 387.5 μm; head capsule width 287.5–300.0, 292.5 μm.

Mentum (Fig. 5 C ). Width 105.0–110.0, 108.0 μm; median tooth width 23.0–25.0, 24.3 μm; ventromental plate width 83.0–122.5, 96.8 μm; distance between ventromental plates 59.0–85.0, 68.8 μm; striae count 22–29, 26.

Mandible (Fig. 5 D ). Length 125.0–132.5, 129.8 μm.

Antenna (Fig. 5 E ). Segment lengths: 100.0–102.5, 101.2 μm; 27.0–28.0, 27.5 μm; 23.0–26.3, 24.8 μm; 16.0–21.3, 19.1 μm; 10.0–11.3, 10.4 μm; 7.5–8.8, 7.9 μm).

Antennal ratio ( AR) 1.1–1.2, 1.1. Ring organ width 25.5 μm; ring organ positioned at 0.15–0.22, 0.20 of basal segment length, 15.0–22.5, 20.0 μm from segment base; antennal blade 53.0–72.0, 59.7 μm in length.

Labrum. Premandible bifid; length 62.5–65.0, 63.8 μm. Pecten epipharyngis is composed of 8 teeth.

Thorax. Anterior claws pale with a faint golden tint; posterior claws pale golden. Procercus and apical setae are yellowish brown.

Abdomen. Anal setae comprising 8 hairs, length 197.4–445.0, 327.5 μm (Table 1 ).

Ecological environment

(Fig. 6 ). The stream flows through forests and villages, featuring a streambed composed of bedrock and sediment, with excellent water clarity.

Remarks.

A comparative analysis was conducted between our data and the larval morphological measurements reported by Tang (2006). The larvae of M. tuberosus resemble those of Microtendipes britteni (Edwards, 1983) in mentum morphology. However, M. tuberosus is noticeably smaller in body size (mean 2.8 mm vs. 6.9 mm in M. britteni ) and has a shorter mandibular pecten (mean 153.3 μm vs. 195.0 μm in M. britteni ). Among congeners, M. tuberosus is notably smaller overall. Both its median and lateral teeth are uniformly dark brown.

Figures

Figure 5. Larva of Microtendipes tuberosus Qi & Wang, 2006. A. Habitus of larva; B. Head capsule; C. Mentum; D. Mandible; E. Antenna.

Figure 6. Habitat of Microtendipes tuberosus larvae.