Author: (Edwards, 1929)
Diagnosis (n=6)
Exuviae 6.1-8.0mm long.
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles short conical, 50-70µm high (119e.jpg). Frontal setae absent. 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 0.48-0.53x width tergite; hooks 73-96. Armament of tergites strong, e.g. anterior points of median point patch of tergites IV and V about 5µm long (119f.jpg). Tergites II-VI with obvious anterior transverse bands of points stronger than those of the median patch with which they may be confluent for the tergite width; III may have the apical band reduced to a few small points on each side; IV always with a complete apical band. Pedes spurii B of segment II absent. Vortex present. Comb of segment VIII 3-6 teeth, the largest the most posterior. Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 3,4,4(5),(3)5.
Anal segment: Fringe of anal lobe with 38-62 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
Palaearctic species: Widespread in Europe, circum-Mediterranean.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Rivers and lakes.