Author: (Meigen, 1818)
Diagnosis (n=4, reared)
Exuviae 7.5-8.3mm long (120-1.jpg).
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles elongate conical, 110-180µm high; frontal setae absent (120b.jpg). Thoracic horn of about 10 branches, branches much shorter than half the length of the abdomen. Thorax weakly rugose to smooth, with largest granules near suture (112b.jpg).
Abdomen: Length hook row II 0.36-0.41x width tergite. Posterior points of tergite II conspicuously larger than those on tergite III (120c.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. Apical bands III and IV a complete band of points intermediate in size between the smaller and the larger points of the median and anterior bands. Sternite I with a restricted extent of shagreen or smooth. Pedes spurii B of segment II absent. Vortex present. Comb of segment VIII of 2-7 teeth, the largest the most posterior. Lateral taeniae of segments V-VIII: 3,4,4,5.
Anal segment: Fringe of anal lobe with 46-62 taeniae (120d.jpg).
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Note: Pupae of type Microtendipes pe1. Microtendipes diffinis, Microtendipes pedellus and M. chloris have very similar pupae; the characters given for separation may not hold when more associated material becomes available, and when the pupae of other species are known.
Species keys out at Page 289: Chironomini 186 Microtendipes of the Text Key.
Distribution
Palaearctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).