Parachironomus lobus, Yan & Saether & Jin & Wang, 2008

Yan, Chuncai, Saether, Ole A., Jin, Zhaohui & Wang, Xinhua, 2008, Three new species of the Harnischia complex from the Sino-Indian Region, with a review of Demicryptochironomus Lenz (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1968, pp. 1-22 : 19

Parachironomus lobus sp. n.

( Figs 34–36)

Type material. Holotype male ( BDN No. 078), CHINA: Hainan Island, Changjiang County, Bawangling Nature Conservation Area , 11.v.1989, light trap, X. Wang . Paratype male ( BDN No. 070), same data as holotype .

Diagnostic characters. The broad, tapering anal point together with the reduced inferior volsella, the small size (wing length about 1.4 mm) and the low antennal ratio (AR 1.1–1.2) will separate the species from other members of the genus.

Etymology. From Latin lobus , projection, referring to the superior volsella having an elongated projection apically.

Male (n = 2, unless otherwise stated). Total length 2.55–2.75 mm. Wing length 1.38 mm. Total length/ wing length 1.85–1.99. Wing length/length of profemur 1.97–2.06.

Coloration. Thorax yellowish brown, vittae darker brown. Foreleg with femur yellowish green, tibia dark brown, and tarsi brown. Mid- and hind legs with femur and tibia yellowish green, tarsi brown. Abdomen with tergite I–VI yellowish green, tergite VII–VIII and hypopygium dark brown.

Head. AR 1.14–1.17. Ultimate flagellomere 400–410 µm long. Frontal tubercles absent. Temporal setae 10 (1), including 2 (1) inner verticals, 4 (1) outer verticals, and 4 (1) postorbitals. Clypeus with 14 setae. Tentorium 100–105 µm long, 28–30 µm wide. Palpomere lengths (in µm): 25–35; 33–38; 100–113; 113–123; 141–170. Palp segment 5/3 1.41–1.50.

Thorax. Antepronotals 2, acrostichals 8–10, dorsocentrals 7–8, prealars 3–4. Scutellum with 8–10 setae.

Wing ( Fig. 34). VR 1.20–1.24. Brachiolum with 1–3 setae, R with 13 setae, R 1 with 10–12 setae, R 4+5 with 15–16 setae. Squama with 10–12 setae.

Legs. Foretibia with 2 subapical setae, 105–108 and 113–115 µm long. Spurs of midtibia 18–25 and 25–33 µm long; comb with 28–36 teeth, 10 µm long. Spurs of hind tibia 25 and 33–35 µm long; comb with 34–46 teeth, 10–11 µm long. Mid- and hind legs without sensilla chaetica. Lengths and proportions of legs as in Table 3.

Hypopygium ( Figs 35–36). Tergite IX with conical posterior margin, with 18–20 setae at base of anal point in dorsal view, 8–10 setae in ventral view. Laterosternite IX with 1–2 setae. Anal tergite bands Y-shaped, with narrow longitudinal band. Anal point originating from conical area on anal tergite, 63–70 µm long, 18–20 µm wide at base, tapering to pointed apex. Superior volsella digitiform, nearly parallel-sided, weakly curved, 52–58 µm long, with one apical and one subapical seta in distinct pits, with small elongated apical projection. Phallapodeme 60 µm long. Transverse sternapodeme 24–28 µm long. Gonocoxite 70 µm long, inner margin with sharp median angle and 6–7 strong setae. Gonostylus 160–168 µm long, slightly expanded basally, curved medially, inner margin 11–13 setae. HR 0.42–0.44; HV 1.52–1.72.

Remarks. In Lehmann (1970) Parachironomus lobus will key to P. arcuatus (Goetghebuer) or to P. siljanensis Brundin ; both, however, are distinctly larger species. In Langton and Pinder (2007: 181) it keys to couplet 12, P. arcuatus and P. frequens (Johannsen) , differing from both in the shape of the anal point.

Distribution. The species was collected in a subtropical mountain area in Hainan Island, China.