Limnophyes minimus (Meigen, 1818)

Liu, Wenbin, Zhao, Cong, Kong, Fanqing, Yan, Chuncai & Wang, Xinhua, 2021, New species of Limnophyes Eaton (Diptera, Chironomidae) from China and synonymy of L. fuscipygmus Tokunaga, 1940, ZooKeys 1011, pp. 51-61 : 51

Limnophyes minimus (Meigen, 1818)

Chironomus minimus Meigen, 1818: 47.

Limnophyes pusillus Eaton, 1875: 60; Goetghebuer 1932: 196; 1940-50: 140; Brundin 1947: 83.

Spaniotoma (Limnophyes) pusilla (Eaton); Edwards, 1929: 355.

Limnophyes minimus (Meigen); Goetghebuer 1932: 108, 1940-50: 137.

Limnophyes interruptus Goetghebuer, 1938: 463.

Limnophyes immucronatus Sæther, 1969: 103.

Limnophyes hudsoni Sæther, 1975: 1032.

Limnophyes natalensis (Kieffer); Freeman 1957: 344, pro parte, (misidentified)

Limnophyes minimus (Meigen); Sæther 1990: 59; Wang and Sæther 1993: 216; Wang 2000: 636; Yamamoto 2004: 46; Makarchenko et al. 2005: 403, 2011: 115, Langton and Pinder 2007: 114.

Limnophyes fuscipygmus Wang, 2000: 636, nec Tokunaga, 1940: 287 syn. nov.

Material examined.

Fujian Province, Fuzhou Agricultural University Campus, sweep net, 5 males, 22.iv.1993, W. Bu; Fujian Province, Nanping County, Maodi Town, sweep net, 4 males, 22.ix.2002, Z. Liu; Fujian Province, Shanghang County, Mt. Buyun, light trap, 5 males, 6.v.1993, W. Bu; Fujian Province, Wuyishan Natural Reserve Area, light trap, 31 males, 25.iv.1993, W. Bu; Guangxi Autonomus Region, Jinxiu County, Luoxiang Town, sweep net, 2 males, 9.vi.1990, X. Wang; Guangxi Autonomus Region, Longsheng County, sweep net, 5 males, 24.v.1990, X. Wang; Guizhou Province, Daozhen County, Dashahe Natural Reserve Area, sweep net, 1 male, 22.v.2004, H. Tang; Guizhou Province, Daozhen County, Xiaoshahe River, sweep net, 1 male, 25.v.2004, H. Tang; Hebei Province, Chengde City, Beidai River, sweep net, 1 male, viii.1986, X. Wang; Hebei Province, Chengde City, Saihanba Forest Park, sweep net, 1 male, 15.vii.2001, Y. Guo; Henan Province, Luanchuan County, Longyuwan Park, sweep net, 1 male, 13.vii.1996, J. Li; Henan Province, Baiyunshan Forest Farm, sweep net, 3 males, 16.vii.1996, J. Li; Henan Province, Song County, Baiyunshan Forest Farm, sweep net, 3 males, 16.vii.1996, J. Li; Hubei Province, Hefeng County, Mt. Fenshui, light trap, 3 males, 16.vii.1997, B. Ji; Hubei Province, Lifeng County, Houhe River, sweep net, 2 males, 30.vi.1997, B. Ji; Hubei Province, Lichuan County, Mt. Xingdou, sweep net, 3 males, 30.vi.1997, B. Ji; Hubei Province, Xianfeng County, Pingbaying Park, sweep net, 3 males, 25.vi.1997, B. Ji; Jiangxi Province, Poyang Lake, sweep net, 4 males, 12.vi.2004, C. Yan; Jiangxi Province, Yifeng County, Mt. Gongshan, sweep net, 2 males, 8.vi.2004, C. Yan; Jiangxi Province, Wuyishan Natural Reserve Area, light trap, 2 males, 13.vi.2004, C. Yan; Ningxia Autonomous Region, Mt. Liupan, Erlonghe Forest Farm, sweep net, 6 males, 7.viii.1987, X. Wang; Shannxi Province, Ningshan County, Huoditang Forest Farm, sweep net, 2 males, 12.viii.1994, W. Bu; Sichuan Province, Ganzi City, Yajiang River, light trap, 2 males, 14.vi.1996, X.Wang; Sichuan Province, Kangding City, Wasi River, light trap, 2 males, 15.vi.1996, X.Wang; Sichuan Province, Litang County, Zhaisang Region, sweep net, 2 males, 11.vi.1996, X.Wang; Sichuan Province, Mt. Emei, sweep net, 1 male, 17.v.1987, X. Wang; Xizang Autonomus Region, Xiazayu County, sweep net, 2 males, 24.iv.1988, C. Deng; Xizang Autonomus Region, Shigatse City, Zhangmu Town, sweep net, 6 males, 18.ix.1987, C. Deng; Yunnan Province, Fumin County, Daying Town, sweep net, 1 male, 1.vi.1996, X. Wang; Yunnan Province, Wuding County, Mashan Town, sweep net, 1 male, 1.vi,1996, X. Wang; Zhejiang Province, Baishanzu Natural Reserve Area, light trap, 2 males, 18.iv.1994, H. Zou; Zhejiang Province, Tianmushan Natural Reserve Area, light trap, 1 male, 17.viii.1999, H. Zou.

Remarks.

Limnophyes minimus (Meigen, 1818) is one of the dominant species of Limnophyes in China. Of all the specimens examined, some variation can be found. One specimen from Guangxi Province had a strongly reduced anal lobe, antenna with 10 segments, and LR1 of 0.59, i.e., outside the range of 0.45-0.55. Two specimens from Sichuan and Yunnan provinces have AR 0.20 and 0.30, both lower than the minimum value of Sæther’s description (AR 0.48). One specimen from Fujian Province had 9-segmented antenna, and high length ratio of palpomeres 5/3 (2.11).

Tokunaga (1940) described the species L. fuscipygmus based on materials from Taiwan Province, China. The holotype specimen of L. fuscipygmus mainly agrees with the description of L. minimus by Sæther (1975: 1032, figs 2-4), especially the characters of humeral pit, anal point, inferior volsella, and gonostylus. Consequently, it must be considered a junior synonym of L. minimus .

Distribution.

The species is widespread, and it has been recorded in all the six Chinese geographical regions. It occurs both in Palaearctic and Oriental China.