Association between Ichthyocladius (Diptera: Chironomidae) and armored catfishes in the Guareí River basin, São Paulo State, Brazil

Abstract

Ichthyocladius is a genus of chironomid (Diptera, Insecta) whose immature forms live attached to the bodies of some species of freshwater fi shes. Here we investigate the association between Ichthyocladius spp. and armored catfi sh in streams of the Guareí River basin, Paraná River system, Brazil. We provide the fi rst record of I. lilianae associated with fi sh in the São Paulo State and the Paraná River basin. In addition, this is the fi rst report of Ichthyocladius associated with the armored catfi shes Hypostomus iheringii and H. tietensis. Lastly, we record two undescribed species of Chironomidae (i.e., Ichthyocladius sp. 1 and Ichthyocladius sp. 2) associated with fi shes.