Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaki

Oyewo, Emmanuel Adeoye & Saether, Ole A., 2008, Revision of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) Kieffer and Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaki (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1953, pp. 1-145 : 137-138

Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaki

Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaki , in Sasa 1988b: 80.

Type species: Pentapedilum tuberculatum Tokunaga, 1940b: 290 .

Other included species: Pentapedilum yakuabeum Sasa et Suzuki, 2000a: 56 ; Polypedilum (P.) yakucedeum Sasa et Suzuki, 2000a: 57 .

Diagnostic characters. Antenna with 13 flagellomeres. Wing membrane with microtrichia, especially towards apex, squama fringed. Both mid and hind tibia with two narrow separate combs, one bearing a long spur; pulvilli well developed (Fig. 58E), but not bifurcate as in Polypedilum . Anterior margin of the eight tergite nearly straight, not tapering as seen in Pentapedilum and Polypedilum . Gonocoxite longer than gonostylus. Gonostylus broad and short, with a short apical seta; inner margin bears short setae. Superior volsella roughly T-shaped, composed of a narrow base, narrow, parallel-sided shaft and an apical portion expanded both medially and laterally. Superior volsella may bear a lateral seta on the projection and basal inner setae. The female has 6 flagellomeres.

Systematics. The immature stages are not known for Ainuyusurika . It thus is premature to attempt an exact phylogenetic placement. However, the genus appears to be close to Phaenopsectra Kieffer , sharing most features except the peculiar shape of the superior volsella. Both have abdominal segment VIII apparently straight, not basally constricted; wing membrane with macrotrichia, occurring at least in cells r 4+5 and m 1+2; simple, not bilobed, pulvilli; and setae on inner margin of gonostylus short and clumped. Asheum Sublette et Sublette has a somewhat similar superior volsella, but no macrotrichia on the wing and long setae (as in Polypedilum ) on the gonostylus.

Distribution. The three included species are known only from Japan.