Pseudosmittia cristagata, Ferrington Jr & Saether, 2011

Ferrington Jr, Leonard C. & Saether, Ole A., 2011, A revision of the genera Pseudosmittia Edwards, 1932, Allocladius Kieffer, 1913, and Hydrosmittia gen. n. (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) 2849, Zootaxa 2849 (1), pp. 1-314 : 185-186

Pseudosmittia cristagata sp. n.

( Fig. 68 A–F )

Type material: Holotype male, CHINA: Guangdong, Fenghai , 20.iv.1988, X. Wang ( ZMBN Type No. 438) . Paratypes: USA, California, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Sulfur Valley , 8 males, 20.viii.1962, R. Whitsel ( USNM, JES, UMSP) .

Diagnostic characters: The large, bluntly triangular crista dorsalis, the low inferior volsella and accessory lobe together with the spine-like virga separate the species from other members of the genus.

Etymology: From the Latin crista, knee, the diminutive magnus large, leaving - gus used as a suffix, and - atus,

provided with, referring to the large crista dorsalis.

Male imago (n = 6–8, except when otherwise stated)

All measurements and ratios within the range of variation of P. digitata with the following exceptions and additions: Total length/wing length 1.54–1.87, 1.75; wing length/length of profemur 2.92–3.37, 3.10. AR 0.63–1.09, 0.97 (5) (0.63 in holotype from China, 0.97–1.09 in specimens from California); dorsocentrals 5–8, 6; prealars 2–3, 2 (9); scutellum with 2–4, 2 setae; wing ( Fig. 68 A ) cuneiform, no costal extension; width at apex of front tibia 14–21, 17 µm; hind tibial comb of 11–13, 12 setae, shortest setae 21–27, 24 µm (5) long; ta 4 of front leg 32–50 µm (2) long, of hind leg 35 µm (1) long; LR 3 0.50–0.54 (2); BV 1 3.74–4.40 (2); BV 2 3.77–4.28 (2); BV 3 3.56 (1); SV 3 3.51–3.73 (2); BR 1 3.1–3.5 (2); BR 2 4.0 (1); virga ( Fig. 68 E ) spine-like, 37–48, 44 µm long; anal point ( Fig. 68 F ) free of microtrichia at apex; gonocoxite 114–133, 122 µm long; inferior volsella reaching to 0.51–0.65, 0.59 gonocoxite length; accessory lobe reaching to 0.75–0.87, 0.81 gonocoxite length; gonostylus 53–67, 62 µm long; preapical crista dorsalis conspicuous; HR 1.82–2.22, 1.95; HV 2.36–3.21, 2.68.

Female, pupa and larva

Unknown.

Remarks

The California specimens may represent a different species than the holotype from China. However, the only relatively significant difference is in the antennal ratio, which in other species of the genus can vary as much or more than the amount in the specimens we have examined.

Distribution

The species is known from Guangdong in China, a site well within the Oriental Region, and from California, USA.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Pseudosmittia spp., male. A–F. P. cristagata sp. n. A—wing; B—head; C—third palpomere; D—cibarial pump and stipes; E—virga; F—hypopygium, left dorsal aspect, right ventral aspect. G–J. P. reyei (Freeman). G—head; H—cibarial pump and stipes; I—virga; J—hypopygium, left dorsal aspect, right ventral aspect.