Author: Goetghebuer, 1931
Diagnosis
Exuviae 5.5-6.7mm long (n=5).
Cephalothorax: Cephalic tubercles elongate conical, 25, 38µm high (n=2). Frontal setae 150-170µm long (n=4). Antennal sheath base with a moderately strong conical swelling (tubercle). Thoracic horn 495-710µm long; ThR 7.0-16.5 (n=5). Thoracic horn setae from near base, seta 192-260µm long, 0.29-0.35 of horn length (n=4) (148h.jpg). Posterior thoracic mound very weak. Pearl row absent.
Abdomen: Length hook row II 0.45-0.62x width tergite; hooks 130-159 (n=3). Tergite II without anterior point patches; armament with the lateral point bands completely fused anteriorly, leaving a longitudinally oval bare patch postero-medially. Tergite III with spinules less than 45µm long, the greater part of the spinule band posterior to seta D5 (148i.jpg). Tergites IV and V with a pair of transverse, slightly oblique point patches. Lateral longitudinal bands of spines or spinules absent on tergites IV and V, though there may be a broad field of small points spreading posteriorly from the anterior point patches. Tergites VII and VIII with very restricted armament or smooth. Pedes spurii B II weak. Comb of segment VIII 50-55µm long (n=5); with 5-10 narrow marginal teeth (148j.jpg). Lateral taeniae of segments IV-VIII: 3,3,4,4,5.
Anal segment: Anal lobe ratio 1.1-1.3 (n=6). Fringe of anal lobe complete, with 48-70 taeniae (n=8).
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Note: Micropsectra notescens with three lateral taeniae on segment IV can be recognized by the strong posterior thoracic mound, the well-developed pedes spurii B II and the weak projection on the base of the antennal sheath.
Species keys out at Page 522: Tanytarsini 163 Micropsectra of the Text Key.
Distribution
Holarctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Chironominae).
Ecological notes
Mainly stagnant water.