Author: Keyl, 1961
Diagnosis (Specimens identified by Strenzke in coll. ZSM)
Exuviae 9.1-9.8mm long (n=4).
Colour: Brownish exuviae with brown markings. 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 LxB 125x107-130x115µm (n=3), tubercles gradually contracted to apex. Frontal setae 63-75µm long (n=3), setae narrow, about 1.5µm wide. Thoracic horn much branched; basal ring of horn 170x80-200x85µm; tracheal patch 125x37-155x40µm; 14-16 tracheoles across (n=3). Tracheoles of tracheal patch less than 3µm across. Tracheal patch of thoracic horn without an "eye". Thoracic granulation weak, antero-laterally evanescent and mid-laterally reticulate.
Abdomen: Hook row II entire; hooks 91 (n=3). Armament of tergites II-VI in the form of an undivided and not strongly waisted patch of strong points, the points in each segment increasing in size posteriorly. Armament of tergites far less extensive, 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, and with the points between the anterior adhesion marks still quite sturdy. The point patches increase in extent from tergite II to V, but on VI the patch is more or less reduced. Points of tergite VIII mainly isolated and irregularly arranged. Seta D4 of tergite VI closer to mid-line than seta D3. Shagreen of sternite II extensive complete posteriorly. Sternite III with the lateral longitudinal shagreen band wide and extending nearly the length of the segment; sternite IV with similar bands which extend half the segment length or more. Parasternite II obviously shagreened; III without shagreen; IV may have a few minute points in posterior half. Pleura of segment IV smooth, or with a very few scattered spinules. Conjunctives IV/V and V/VI armed with points or spinulate points. Comb of segment VIII with 2-5 stout teeth (n=4), 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. Fringe of anal lobe with 108-121 taeniae (n=4).
Species keys out at Page 211: Chironomini 108 Chironomus of the Text Key.
Distribution
Widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Shallow pools; a flowing ditch.