Skusella, Freeman. There, 1961

Cranston, Peter S. & Tang, Hongqu, 2018, Skusella Freeman (Diptera: Chironomidae): new species, immature stages from Africa, Asia and Australia, and expanded distributions, Zootaxa 4450 (1), pp. 41-65 : 57

Skusella sp. ‘Limuling’

( Figs 4 A –B , 6B )

Material examined. 5 Pe , CHINA, Hainan Province, Qiongzhong County, Limuling NNR, 19°10.755' N 109°45.074' E, 11.ii.2015 (H.Q. Tang) ( EJNU, 2 (1 slide) to ANIC) ; 3 Pe, CHINA, Hainan Province, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Diaoluo National Forest Park , 18°43.606'N 109°52.051'E, 26.iv.2012 (H.Q. Tang); 1 Pe, CHINA, Hainan Province, Changjiang Li Autonomous County , Bawangling NNR, 19°06.752'N 109°11.980'E, 30.iv.2012 (H.Q. Tang); 1 Pe, CHINA, Hainan Province, Wanning City, 3 km away from Martyrs Memorial Park of Liulianling , 18°58.825'N 110°25.348'E, 09.ii.2015 (H.Q. Tang).

Description. Pupa (n = 5). Body length 5.2–5.6 mm. Exuviae pale grey with brown apophyses.

Cephalothorax. Cephalic tubercle absent. Frontal setae 40–50 µm, half the length of distance between setae ( Fig. 4 A ). Thorax clearly rugose at scutual hump, otherwise smooth ( Fig. 4B ). Prealar tubercle absent.

Abdomen ( Fig. 6B ). Similar to S. silingae but with spinulae on anterior of each tergite extending more laterad including to onto anterior pleurae. Hook row of 24–27 hooks, extending 23–28% of segment width. Posterolateral corner of VIII (‘comb’) with 9–12 teeth of variable length. Anal lobe with 130–140 taeniae.

Comments. The pupal exuviae resemble those of S. subvittata and S. silingae but lacks a cephalic tubercle and has more extensive anterior tergal spinulation. From differs from S. sp. ‘Sanyatang’ in the spinulosity on the pleurae being restricted to small areas on segments V–VII and spinules are lacking on sternite I.

Exuviae were collected from some near pristine mountain streams and ponds.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Skusella pupae. A, Cephalic area in S. sp. ‘Limuling’; B, Lateral thorax, S. sp. ‘Limuling’; C, Base of thoracic horn, S. subvittata; D, Prealar tubercle, S. subvittata; E, Sternite I, S. sp. ‘Sanyatang’; F, Part of tergite IV, S. sp. ‘Jianfengling’; G, Segments II–IV with pedes spurii B and pleural fringe, S. subvittata; H–J Segment VIII posterolateral ‘combs’, H, S. subvittata; I, S. pallidipes, J, S. sp. ‘Jianfengling’.

FIGURE 6. Skusella pupae, abdomen (dorsal). A, S. silingae sp. n.; B, S. sp. ‘Limuling’; C, S. sp. ‘Sanyatang’.