Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925 )

Mukherjee, Bindarika & Hazra, Niladri, 2022, First records of three genera, Cyphomella Saether, 1977, Olecryptotendipes Zorina, 2007 and Robackia Saether, 1977 of the Harnischia complex from India with description of O. extentus sp. n., O. obtunsus sp. n. and R. aequilongia sp. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 5091 (2), pp. 330-340 : 337-339

Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925)

GenBank Accession no. MZ128658

Material examined. 1 male, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 20.ix.2019, Coll. N. Hazra’ . 1 male, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 24.ii.2020, Coll. N. Hazra’ . 1 male, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 23.vi.2020, Coll. N. Hazra’ . 5 males, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 14.xii.2020, Coll. N. Hazra’ . 1 male, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan , [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 21.ii.2021, Coll. N. Hazra’ . 2 males, labelled ‘ Cyphomella camelus ( Kieffer, 1925) , India, West Bengal, Burdwan , [23˚22ʹN, 87˚85ʹE], 01.iii.2021, Coll. N. Hazra’ .

Diagnosis. Apices of femora, tibiae, tarsal segments are brown. Two small tubercles present in the middle of mesonotum. Anal point well developed and distally broadened, setigerous protrusions flanking the anal point. Superior volsella is longer than inferior volsella. Gonostylus medially constricted in outer margin. Apical part of gonostylus is darker than rest.

Supplementary description of male (n=11)

Total length 4.03–4.05, 4.04 mm. Wing length 2.3–2.6, 2.4 mm. Costal length 2.20–2.40, 2.30 mm. Antennal length 1.24–1.26, 1.25 mm.

Colouration. Thorax light olive green with brown stripes. Apices of femora and tibiae of fore legs light brown, apices of tarsomeres I–IV of hind and mid legs dark, tarsomere V of mid and hind legs fully dark in colour. Abdomen light olive green with black marking at apical end. Apices of gonostylus darker than rest.

Head. Head width 710–730, 720 µm. Temporal setae 13–14 (IV 7, OV 3–4, Po 3). Clypeal setae 12–14. Frontal tubercles small, 9.2 µm long. AR 2.3–2.5, 2.4; ultimate flagellomere 880–910 µm. Palpomere lengths (µm) (I–V): 40–70, 55: 50–60, 55: 17–18, 17.5: 16–17, 16.5: 0.14–0.15, 14.5. CA 0.57–0.58, 0.575.

Thorax. Scutum with two tubercles. Acrostichals 12–14, dorsocentrals 28–30, prealars 3–4 and scutellum with 24–26 setae. Others not countable.

Wing ( Fig. 4A ). VR 1.03–1.05, 1.04. R with 24–27 setae, R 1 with 11 setae, R 4+5 with 16 setae. Brachiolum with 2 setae. Squama with 14–16 fringed setae. Anal lobe well developed.

Legs. Fore tibia with 3 subapical setae, 110–130, 120 µm, 130–140, 135 µm, 150–170, 160 µm long. Mid legs with 2 tibial spurs, 18.4–20.7, 19.5 µm and 23 µm long, comb with 33–36 teeth. Hind leg with 2 tibial spurs, 23–25.3, 24.15 µm and 29.9–32.2, 31.05 µm long, comb with 34–41 teeth. Lengths (µm) and proportions of thoracic leg segments as in table 4.

Hypopygium ( Figs. 4B–D ). Tergite IX without median setae. Anal tergite band V-shaped.Anal point 52.9–55.2, 54.05 µm long, 9.2–11.5, 10.35 µm wide at base and 18.4–20.7, 19.55 µm wide at apex. Anal point apically widest with rounded apex with 4–5 lateral basal setae on each side. Setulose projection of anal tergite bearing 6 setae on each side of anal point. Transverse sternapodeme 20.7–23, 21.85 µm long, longitudinal sternapodeme 121.9–126.5, 124.2 µm long. Superior volsella short, apically blunt, 55.2–57.5, 56.35 µm long, 18.4–20.7, 19.55 µm wide with 3 apical setae and without microtrichia. Inferior volsella 43.7–46, 44.85 µm long, 20.7–23, 21.85 µm wide with 3 long setae and covered with microtrichia. Gonocoxite 184–188.6, 186.3 µm long. Gonostylus 213.9–218.5, 216.2 µm long, with 8 strong setae along inner margin, pointed at apex bearing 1 short seta. HR 0.85–0.87, 0.86; HV 2.14–2.19, 2.16.

Distribution. Afrotropical ( Chad, Sudan, Congo, Africa), Oriental (West Bengal, India) and Palaearctic regions ( Egypt, North Africa).

Remarks. After careful examination of the specimens, it fully corroborates with C. camelus with the following combination of characters: presence of two tubercles on mesonotum and dark marking on abdomen and thorax. A frontal tubercle is present on the Indian specimen while it is absent in the specimen from Egypt, Sudan ( Freeman, 1957). DNA barcoding of the specimen has been done for the first time.

Figures

FIGURES 4A–D. Adult male Cyphomella camelus. A. Wing, B. Hypopygium (dorsal), C. Hypopygium, scale 0.01 mm, D. Hypopygium (ventral).