Chironomus prope pulcher Wiedemann, 1830

Wuelker, Wolfgang F., Kiknadze, I. I. & Istomina, A. G., 2011, Karyotypes of Chironomus Meigen (Diptera: Chironomidae) species from Africa, Comparative Cytogenetics 1, pp. 23-46 : 29-31

Chironomus prope pulcher Wiedemann, 1830

Previous reports:

Wiedemann 1830, imago.

Freeman 1957, imago.

Dejoux 1968, imago, pupa, larva.

The association to this species is based on one male adult from the collecting sites of the larvae.

Karyotype

(Fig. 5a). Haploid number n=3, arm combination AB CD FEG (modified “thummi” cytocomplex), centromeric bands not heterochromatinized, nucleolus in arm F (at the very telomeric end) and nucleolus-like bodies at the ends of arms A, B, E; Balbiani rings are in arms G and B. Chromosomal polymorphism in arm C (Fig. 5a).

Banding sequences (Fig. 5a, b-e).

Arm A (Fig. 5b) has the banding sequence pulA1, formed by four inversions from pigST

Arm B (Fig. 5a) not mapped, monomorphic. It has a sequence pulB1. The common BR is well developed.

Arm C (Fig. 5a) not mapped. It has two banding sequences pulC1 and pulC2 differing by a simple inversion, which involved practically the whole central part of arm C.

Arm D (Fig. 5c) has the sequence pulD1, formed by five inversion steps from pigST

Arm E (Fig. 5e) has the banding sequence pulE1, formed by three inversion steps from pigST.

Arm F (Fig. 5d) has the sequence pulF1, formed by one simple inversion from pigST.

The characteristic of arm F in Chironomus prope pulcher is the presence of the nucleolus at the telomeric end, which is a rare event among Chironomus species.

Arm G (Fig. 5e) is joined with arm E. There is large Balbiani ring near the site of fusion, and a small Balbiani ring or puff in the center of arm G. A small nucleolus is possibly developed at the telomeric end of arm G.

In total, eight banding sequences were recorded in the Chironomus prope pulcher banding sequence pool. All of them are endemic for Ethiopia. There are no basic sequences.

Larva:

long tubuli laterales on abdominal segment VII. Other characters - Dejoux 1968.

Distribution:

two pools within a short distance, River Athi south of Nairobi, Kenya.