Bromelicolous <i>Polypedilum</i> Kieffer from South Brazil (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Abstract

Polypedilum (s. str.) kaingangi sp. n. is described and figured as male, female, pupa and larva and the female and immature stages of Polypedilum (s. str.) solimoes Bidawid-Kafka, 1996 are described and illustrated. The immatures of both species inhabit leaf axils of various bromeliad species in the Atlantic rainforest in Santa Catarina State, South Brazil.

Male description of the phytotelma-dwelling species Polypedilum parthenogeneticum (Chironomidae: Chironominae)

“…The presence of spotted wings and the superior volsella with 3 inner setae in the male and the spinules on conjunctive V-VI, lacking of median patches of shagreen in tergite III, fine and weak shagreen on tergites IV and V, and anal comb with several spines of the pupa separates the species Polypedilum (P.) panacu Mendes et al 2011 from P. (P.) parthenogeneticum. The other species is Polypedilum (Polypedilum) kaingangi, described by Pinho et al (2013). This species is clearly differentiated from P. (P.) parthenogeneticum by having a highly setose clypeus (63-78 to 22 in P. (P.) parthenogeneticum) and the superior volsella has 2 inner setae in the male; the pupa with fine and weak shagreen on tergites III, IV and V, and anal comb with several spines.…”

A new invasive weed-feeding species of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) Kieffer from South Africa (Diptera: Chironomidae, Chironominae)

“…A few species are also specialising in plant-held waters (phytotelmata) (e.g. Pinho et al 2013). Polypedilum (Po.)…”