Parachironomus Lenz from China and Japan (Diptera, Chironomidae)

Abstract

Members of the genus Parachironomus Lenz known from China and Japan are revised, and a key to their male adults is given. Parachironomus poyangensis sp. n. is described in this life stage. Parachironomus frequens (Johannsen) and Parachironomus monochromus (van der Wulp) are recorded from China for the first time, thus are redescribed from Chinese specimens. Parachironomus kamaabeus Sasa & Tanaka and Parachironomus toneabeus Sasa & Tanaka are new junior synonyms of Parachironomus frequens. Three Chinese or Japanese species formerly placed in Parachironomus are transferred to other genera, resulting in the new combinations Cryptochironomus inafegeus (Sasa, Kitami & Suzuki), Demicryptochironomus (Irmakia) lobus (Yan, Sæther, Jin & Wang), and Microchironomus lacteipennis (Kieffer). Chironomus sauteri Kieffer, Parachironomus kisobilobalis Sasa & Kondo and Parachironomus kuramaexpandus Sasa are removed from Parachironomus; the last of these three denotes a valid species of uncertain generic placement, the first two are nomina dubia.

New species, a new combination, and DNA barcodes of Parachironomus Lenz, 1921 (Diptera, Chironomidae)

“…Larvae of Parachironomus can be found in a variety of habitats, such as standing and flowing waters, soft sediments, or within aquatic macrophytes, while others are endo- or ectoparasites on snails ( Orel 2017 ). Among the Harnischia generic group, members of Parachironomus can separated from the similar genus Demicryptochironomus Lenz by the extended superior volsella with several distal setae always arising from distinct pits, and the inferior volsella with a pointed or blunt caudal projection ( Yan et al 2015 ). To date, 85 valid species have been reported worldwide ( Lehmann 1970 ; Ashe and Cranston 1990 ; Kikuchi and Sasa 1990 ; Oliver et al 1990 ; Sæther et al 2000 ; Wang 2000 ; Sasa et al 2001 ; Sasa and Tanaka 2001 ; Makarchenko et al 2005 ; Spies 2008 ; Trivinho-Strixino et al 2010 ; Yan et al 2015 ; Orel 2017 ).…”