Gynocladius, Mendes, H. F., Saether, O. A. & Andrade-Morraye, M., 2005

Mendes, H. F., Saether, O. A. & Andrade-Morraye, M., 2005, Gynocladius scalpellosus n. gen., n. sp. from Brazil (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae), Zootaxa 979, pp. 1-12 : 2-4

Gynocladius new genus

Type species: Gynocladius scalpellosus new species, by present designation.

Diagnostic characters: The female imagines are separable from all other known orthoclads by the combination of hairy wings with bare squama; straight Cu1 and strongly extended costa; scutum with median group of strongly scalpellate acrostichals; gonapophysis VIII with well developed, brush­like ventrolateral lobe and large dorsomesal lobe; tergite IX undivided; and seminal capsules large with strongly sclerotised, triangular neck. The pupa is distinguished by lacking thoracic horns and anal lobe fringe; spines present posteriorly on tergites II–VIII and sternites III(IV)–VII; and subequal macrosetae on spined tubercles about half as long as the anal lobe. The larva has plumose S I; premandible with 3 apical teeth; 5­segmented antenna with blade much longer than flagellum; mentum with single median tooth, 5 pairs of lateral teeth and reduced ventromental plates; and minute procerci with reduced anal setae.

Etymology: From Greek gyne, meaning female, referring to the parthenogenesis, and “cladius”, a common ending among orthoclads.

Female imago: Small species; wing length about 0.9 mm.

Eye bare, rounded, no dorsomedian elongation. Antenna with 5 flagellomeres and long, simple sensilla chaeticae on each, without stiff apical seta. Palpomeres well developed; third palpomere with 1 lanceolate sensilla clavata. Temporals consisting of few inner and outer verticals and postorbitals. Tentorium very narrow. Cibarial pump with concave anterior margin and strongly diverging cornua. Clypeus broad, with numerous setae.

Antepronotal lobes collar­like, slightly narrowed medially, with few lateral setae. About 8 short median, distinctly scalpellate acrostichals; several dorsocentrals, uni­biserial anteriorly, uniserial posteriorly; few prealars; supraalar absent. Scutellum with few transversely uniserial setae.

Wing without anal lobe; all cells with setae, with fine punctation; costa strongly extended, reaching near apex of wing; R4+5 ending distal to apex of M3+4; R2+3 ending in middle between R1 and R4+5; VR about 1.4; Cu1 straight; postcubitus ending far distal to cubital fork; anal vein ending beyond cubital fork. Brachiolum with 1 seta, subcosta bare, other veins with numerous setae. Squama bare. Sensilla campaniformia about 8 basally and 8 apically on brachiolum, 3 below setae on brachiolum; 1 present basally on subcosta, and 1 on RM.

Front leg ratio about 0.7. Spurs well developed; hind tibial comb normally developed. Pseudospurs absent, sensilla chaeticae not observed. Pulvilli absent.

Tergites with few median and lateral setae.

Female genitalia with well developed gonocoxite with several short and several long setae. Coxosternapodeme straight laterally, curved medially, connected basal of vagina. Tergite IX undivided, with several setae. Postgenital plate triangular. Cercus of moderate size. Gonapophysis VIII divided into brush­like ventrolateral lobe and large dorsomedian lobe. Apodeme lobe relatively conspicuous. Seminal capsules larger than cerci, ovoid, pale anteriorly, with very large, triangular, dark sclerotised neck. Spermathecal ducts curved close to seminal capsule and common opening. Labia without microtrichiae.

Pupa: Small, about 1.5 mm long. Exuviae nearly transparent with anal lobe projections slightly darkened.

Cephalothorax. Frontal setae absent. Cephalic area smooth. Ocular field apparently with two postorbitals. Two median antepronotals and one lateral antepronotal. Thoracic horn absent, 3 precorneals, apparently three dorsocentrals, not grouped. Wing sheath smooth, without pearls or nose.

Abdomen. Tergite I with single caudal row of weak spines, tergites II–IX and sternites III–VIII with extensive shagreen. Conjunctives with small spines. Tergite II without caudal hooklets. Tergites II–VIII with single caudal row of spines, no caudal spines on sternites. Pedes spurii A and B absent. Segments II–VIII apparently with 2 L­setae. D, V and O setae present, but weak. Anal lobe with 3 subequal macrosetae about half as long as anal lobe and situated on spined tubercles. Genital sac of female rounded, not reaching apex of anal lobe.

Larva: Small, about 2.6 mm long.

Antenna with 5 segments, basal segment longer than flagellum; third antennal segment much shorter than fourth. Basal antennal segment nearly 3 times as long as basal width, with ring organ situated just below middle. Lauterborn organs weak, about as long as the short third segment, style well developed. Blade much longer than flagellum, accessory blade about as long as second segment.

S I plumose. Other S setae simple. Labral lamella apparently absent. Few spinulae and chaetae. Pecten epipharyngis consisting of 3 pointed teeth. Chaetulae laterales and chaetulae basales apparently simple. Premandible with 3 apical teeth, with third about half as long as 2 apical; without brush.

Mandible with apical tooth slightly shorter than combined width of first 3 of 4 inner teeth. Fourth tooth fused with mola. Seta subdentalis slightly curved, seta interna with 4–7 branches, longer branches pectinate or plumose.

Mentum with 1 median tooth and 5 pairs of lateral teeth of which outer 2 teeth slightly smaller. Ventromental plates inconspicuous, beard absent. Setae submenti just below base of outer lateral tooth of mentum.

Maxilla and maxillary palp apparently normally developed.

Anterior and posterior parapods well developed; longer claws of anterior parapods with few apical distinct inner teeth. Procercus minute with only about 4 short anal setae, supraanal seta relatively well developed. Anal tubules well developed, digitiform, about as long as posterior parapods.