Chaetocladius, Namayandeh & Hudson & Bogan & Hudson, 2024

Namayandeh, Armin, Hudson, Patrick L., Bogan, Daniel L. & Hudson, John P., 2024, Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) of Alaska, USA, with descriptions of new species and a checklist, Zootaxa 5511 (1), pp. 1-95 : 55

Chaetocladius Kieffer, 1911

Historical records of Chaetocladius in Alaska are from Watson et al. (1966) who listed Chaetocladius maurus (Goethghebuer, 1935) (i.e., nomina dubia in Chaetocladius ) and Chaetocladius n. sp.; and additionally, Chaetocladius perennis (Meigen, 1830) in Oliver et al. (1990), none of which could be verified with certainty. The latest record is of a larva of Chaetocladius dentiforceps group from St. Matthew Island ( Sikes et al. 2016). Records obtained from our collection include a new faunistic state record of a larva of Chaetocladius (s.s.) ligni Cranston & Oliver, 1988 collected from a second-order stream flowing into Georges Inlet on Revillagigedo Island and from Maksoutof Lake on Baranof Island. We described adults of three new species from the Juneau area, C. kimfrangosi sp. nov., C. mendenhallensis sp. nov., and C. tonitrus sp. nov. C. kimfrangosi sp. nov., and C. tonitrus sp. nov. were collected from the Thunder Mountain area, which is characterized as subalpine with snow-melt ponds, small stream and seeps ( Fig. 9M ). C. mendenhallensis sp. nov., was collected in the vicinity of Mendenhall Lake. Andersen et al. (2013) characterized the larvae of the many known species as semi-aquatic, commonly found in high mountains and in Arctic and subarctic areas. Some species, such as C. ligni have larvae known to mine in immersed wood ( Cranston & Oliver 1988).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Some of the study’s collection sites and habitats of Chironomidae in Alaska. A. Turner Lake, near Juneau. B. Bartlett River in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. C. Alaska, USA and Yukon Territory, Canada international boundary. D. Auke Lake outlet in Juneau. E. Rachael Lake near Bettles. F. Spike Creek on Revillagigedo Island. G. Auke Lake in Juneau. H. Hebert River near Juneau. I. Nugget Falls, in Juneau. J. Forested bog near Eagle crest Ski Area, Douglas Isand. K. Creek outlet at Margaret Bay on Revillagigedo Island. L. Mount Roberts (foreground) in Juneau. M. A snow-melt stream (arrows) on Thunder Mountain, Juneau. N. Tangle River near Paxon. O. Kanuti Lake outlet in Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. P. Fish Creek on Douglas Island. Q. Antler River near Juneau. R. Harbor Mountain, Sitka. S. Observing Thalassosmittia marina (Saunders, 1928) larvae in intertidal rock pools near Lena Point, Juneau. T. Larvae of T. marina (arrows) inhabiting a rock pool in the upper tidal zone and feeding on periphytic algae near Lena Point, Juneau. U.A tundra lake east of King Salmon. V. Swarm of Corynocera oliveri group adults on a tundra lake east of King Salmon.