Author: Fabricius, 1805
Diagnosis
Exuviae 12.1-17.1mm long (n=10).
Colour: Brown.
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles LxB 115x125-170x163µm (n=5). Frontal setae 85-135µm long (n=6). Thoracic horn much branched; basal ring of thoracic horn 195x100-267x140µm; tracheolar patch 150x48-213x63µm; 20-26 tracheoles across (n=7); 2µm in diameter; tracheal patch of horn without an "eye". Thoracic granulation strong and extensive.
Abdomen: Hook row II entire, length of row 0.52x width tergite (n=1); hooks 80-135 (n=7). Anterior shagreen band of sternites III and IV continuous or narrowly broken medially. Armament of tergites II-VI not strongly waisted, in the form of an undivided, usually extensive patch of strong points, the points in each segment increasing in size posteriorly. The point patches increase in extent from tergite II to V, but on VI the patch is more or less reduced. Armament of tergites II-VI with the posterior transverse band not successively increasing in extent to tergite VI; usually reduced on VI. Parasternite I with shagreen restricted to posterior third or absent. Pleura of segment IV smooth. Conjunctives IV and V finely spinulate. Comb of segment VIII on the end of an elongate ventral cuticular mound which exceeds appreciably the apico-lateral corner of the segment; comb with 4-9 narrow teeth (100g.jpg , 100h.jpg). Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 4,4,3/4,4/5.
Anal segment: Anal lobe with 152-235 fringe taeniae (n=8); lobes not straight-sided.
Note: Pupal exuviae of type Chironomus pe3.
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Species keys out at Page 161: Chironomini 58 Chironomus of the Text Key.
Distribution
Holarctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Lakes and ponds.