Paucispinigera Freeman

(Figs 1–3)

Paucispinigera Freeman 1959: 428 .

Type-species: Paucispinigera approximata Freeman 1959: 428, by monotypy and original designation.

Generic Diagnosis. Male and female adults, described briefly by Freeman (1959), within tribe Chironomini diagnostically have unusual wing venation (Figs 1A, B) with R 2+3 near adjacent to R 1, and with long costa and curved R 4+5 terminating at wing tip close to the apex of M 1+2. Distal half of M 1+2 (and M 3+ 4 in female) with numerous uniserial setae, as on R, R 1 and R 4+ 5. Squama bare. Fore leg tibia with rounded apex (Fig. 1C); mid and hind leg tibiae apically with 2 near contiguous combs, broader (outer) with single apically curved spine (Fig. 1D), narrower (inner) without spine. Male genitalia (Fig. 1 E–G) with curved gonostylus with apical spine (possible megaseta) and well developed median volsella.

Pupa. Cephalic area with neither cephalic tubules nor warts, with frontal setae (Fig. 2A). Thorax slightly crenulate dorsally (Fig. 2B), with a few-branched horn. Abdomen (Fig. 2C) with strong pedes spurii B on TII; with rectangular spinule pattern on TII–V, anteromedian patch on TVI, TVII–VIII without spinulation. Hook row of TII short, continuous. Conjunctives III and IV with transverse spinule band. Pleura of V posteriorly with spinule patch (Fig. 2D). L setae taeniate on V–VIII, 4, 4, 4, 4. ‘Comb’ with dominant tooth and several outer curved smaller teeth (Fig. 2E). Anal lobe with uni- biserial fringe and dorsal seta.

Larva. Dorsal head with frontoclypeus flared anteriorly with semilunar clypeus (Fig. 2F, 3B). Antenna with 6 segments with Lauterborn organs on apices of 2nd and 3rd segments (Fig. 2G, 3C). Labral SI broadly plumose, near contiguous on fused base, SII apically serrate arising from short nearly contiguous tubercles; pecten epipharyngis of three separate lobes, each with 2 –4 rounded teeth; premandible with 4 teeth and strong brush (Fig. 2H, 3D, E). Mandible with short pale dorsal tooth, larger triangular apical tooth and 2 inner teeth; seta subdentalis elongate; mola and inner margin smooth; seta interna densely plumose, more basal than usual (Fig. 2I, 3I). Ventromental component of mentum with 8 uneven-sized teeth, paler than laterals; dorsomentum with 4 darker teeth each side, each slightly diminishing in size laterad (Fig. 2J, 3H). Ventromental plate fan-shaped with evenly distributed striae.