Author: Meigen, 1830
Diagnosis (Strenzke identified specimens in coll. ZSM)
Exuviae 8.3-10.5mm long (n=4).
Colour: Exuviae golden-brown to dark brown. Contrast in colour between thorax and abdomen not so strongly marked: specimens dark anteriorly also have the abdomen infuscated; outer margin of the anal lobes coloured except at base.
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles conical, LxB 163x150-183x150µm (n=3). Frontal setae 43-78µm long (n=4). Thoracic horn much branched, basal ring of thoracic horn 150x77-225x100µm. Tracheal patch of thoracic horn without an "eye", patch 113x37-183x67µm; 12-18 tracheoles across (n=4). Thoracic granulation strong as far as the level of the beginning of the wing sheaths.
Abdomen: Hook row II entire, length of row 0.5x width tergite (n=1); hooks 66-83 (n=4). Armament of tergites II-VI in the form of an undivided patch of strong points, not strongly waisted and e.g. on tergite III extending laterally at most only as far as the inner edge of the lateral of the anterior adhesion marks and setae D4. The points in each segment increasing in size posteriorly; the posterior transverse band not successively increasing in extent to tergite VI; usually reduced on VI. Points of tergites III and IV medially appearing diffuse: narrower, with anterior 'tails' ending posterior to, or at level of, the points of the preceding row. Posterior points of tergites III and IV much larger than the median points on the same tergite. Points of tergite VIII mainly isolated and irregularly arranged. Sternites III and IV with the lateral bands spreading inwards and only narrowly joined anteriorly. Lateral longitudinal shagreen bands of sternite IV extensive, similar to those on III. Parasternite II obviously shagreened; III without shagreen; IV may have a few minute points in posterior half. Pleura of segment IV extensively armed with relatively large spinules: about 20µm long, 1µm broad at base (100c.jpg). Conjunctives IV/V and V/VI armed with a restricted median patch of small points. Comb of segment VIII with 6-9 elongate teeth (one example: 2 stout very long-apiculate teeth), comb set on the end of an elongate ventral cuticular mound which exceeds appreciably the apico-lateral corner of the segment. Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 4,4,4,5.
Anal segment: Anal lobes weakly rounded. Anal lobes usually with only one taeniate dorsal seta; each lobe with 109-129 fringe taeniae (n=4).
Species keys out at Page 196: Chironomini 93 Chironomus of the Text Key.
Distribution
Widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Stagnant water.