Conochironomus Freeman, 1961

Cranston, Peter S., 2007, The Chironomidae Larvae Associated With The Tsunami-Impacted Waterbodies Of The Coastal Plain Of Southwestern Thailand, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 55 (2), pp. 231-244 : 237-239

Conochironomus Freeman

( Figs. 27–28 )

When Cranston & Hare (1995) revised the genus Conochironomus , species were known only from Australia and Africa. Since then, the distinctive larvae and pupae have been found in Thailand (P.S. Cranston, F. Reiss, unpublished data). Furthermore, a new genus and species named and described from Sumatra by Kikuchi & Sasa (1990) must be allocated to Conochirononomu s.

In the post-tsunami survey, two larvae were found, one in a recovering tsunami-impacted site (505 µS. cm−1, 259 ppm), the other in a more dilute unimpacted, non-peaty pool of conductivity 205 µS. cm−1 and with 102 ppm dissolved solids. Conochironomus larvae are collector-gatherers.

Figures

Figs. 26–36. Thai post-tsunami Chironomidae. Zavreliella sp.: 26, posterior body. Conochironomus sp.: 27, mentum; 28, antenna. Parachironomus ‘K3’: 29, labrum; 30; mentum. Kiefferulus sp.: 31, antenna. Chironomus sp.: 32, mandible. Parachironomus sp.: 33, ventromental plate. Chironomus javanus: 34, epipharynx; 35, premandible. Chironomus sp.: 36, premandible. Abbreviations: ll, labral lamella; LO, Lauterborn organ; pmd, premandible; SI, SII, labral setae I, II; vmp, ventromental plate.