Author: (Meigen, 1830)
Diagnosis (n=3)
Rivers and lakes.
Exuviae 6.3-7.0mm long.
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles short conical, 45-85µm high, frontal setae absent (119e.jpg). Thoracic horn of a few (about 10) branches, branches much shorter than half the length of the abdomen. Thorax with conspicuously large granules near suture (112b.jpg).
Abdomen: Length hook row II 0.52/0.54x width tergite; hooks 79, 87. Armament of tergites weak, apparently evanescing anteriorly and laterally, e.g. anterior points of median point patches of tergites IV and V 2.5µm long or less (119g.jpg). Pedes spurii B of segment II absent. Vortex present. Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 3,4,4,5. Comb of segment VIII 4-6 teeth, the largest the most posterior.
Anal segment: Fringe of anal lobe with 48-54 taeniae.
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Note: Pupae of the type Microtendipes pe2 which can be confused with Polypedilum (Tripodura), but Tripodura species have a dorsal seta on the anal lobes, absent in Microtendipes.
Species keys out at Page 290: Chironomini 187 Microtendipes of the Text Key.
Distribution
Widespread in Europe, circum-Mediterranean.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).