Author: (Edwards, 1929)
Diagnosis
Exuviae 2.2-3.3mm long (m=2.7mm, n=13) (128-2.jpg).
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles 55-70µm long (n=?). Thoracic horn 385-500µm long (n=7), with the apical two-thirds armed with colourless teeth; ThR 9.3-14.8 (n=5) (128f.jpg).
Note: S. minor may be further distinguished from Stempellinella brevis by the longer cephalic tubercles, the dorsal median antepronotal seta inserted on a conspicuous tubercle and the extensively tuberculate anterior thorax.
Abdomen: Armament of tergite II hardly, if at all reaching beyond seta D3. Tergites III-VI with a median and posterior patch of points on each side of the mid-line, which may be sufficiently extensive to form a single large continuous patch. Small pedes spurii B present on segment II, pleura of this segment unarmed (128g.jpg). Lateral borders of segment VIII only partly darkened, in the postero-lateral corners of the segment paired large spurs (128h.jpg). Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 3,4,4,4.
Anal segment: Fringe of anal lobe with 18-25 taeniae (m=20.7, n=13) (128h.jpg).
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Species keys out at Page 374: Tanytarsini 17 Stempellinella of the Text Key.
Distribution
Holarctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Northern and montane lakes and streams; ponds in the south.