Robackia pilicauda Saether

Yan, Chuncai & Wang, Xinhua, 2006, Robackia Saether from China (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1361, pp. 53-59 : 56

Robackia pilicauda Saether

( Figs. 5–7 )

Robackia pilicauda Saether, 1977: 129 ; Wang et al. (1991: 14); Wang (2000: 646).

Material examined

CHINA: Fujian Province, Wuyi Mountain Natural Conservation Area, Sangang Village, 1 male, 25.ix.1993, light trap, X. Wang; Fujian Province, Fuzhou City, Campus of Fujian Agricultural College, 1 male, 22.ix.1993, light trap, X. Wang; Guangdong Province, Fengkai County, Heishiding Natural Conservation Area, 1 male, 12.ix.1985, light trap, X. Wang; Guangdong Province, Fengkai County, Herkou, bank of a small brook, 1 male, 18.ix.1988, sweep net, X. Wang; Hunan Province, Yanling County, Taoyuandong Natural Conservation Area, 1 male, 16–18.vii.2004, Malaise trap, C. Yan.

Diagnostic characters

The species can be distinguished by the following combination of characters: AR 1.76–2.10, LR1 1.80–2.17, squama with 4–9 setae, tergite IX with shoulder-like posterior corners, superior volsella strongly swollen distally, and anal point nearly parallel-sided.

Coloration. Thorax yellowish brown to brown, sometimes with slightly dark brown vittae. Front leg with femora, tibia and basal half ta1 yellowish brown, remainder of front tarsi dark brown; mid and hind legs yellowish green to brown, with ta3-ta5 brown. Abdomen yellowish green to brown, tergite IX and hypopygium brown.

Remarks

Except for coloration, Saether (1977) described the species in detail. The Chinese specimens have a more flattened inferior volsella ( Figs. 6–7 ) than the lobe-like volsella figured by Saether (1977: Fig. 47E-F); R has 0–3, 3 basal setae compared to 2–6, 3 setae; and LR1 is 2.09–2.17, 2.13 compared to 1.81–1.94, 1.90 in Saether (1977: 131).

Distribution

Saether (1977) described the species based on material from Yugoslavia. It is also recorded from Italy, North Korea and Russian Far East ( Makarchenko et al. 2005; Saether et al. 2000). Wang et al. (1991) recorded the species from Oriental China.

Figures

FIGURES 5 – 7. Robackia pilicauda Saether, 1977, male from China. 5. Wing. 6. Hypopygium, dorsal view. 7. Hypopygium, ventral view.