Ablabesmyia Johannsen, 1905

Chamutiová, Tímea, Hamerlík, Ladislav & Bitušík, Peter, 2020, Subfossil chironomids (Diptera, Chironomidae) of lakes in the Tatra Mountains an illustrated guide, Zootaxa 4819 (2), pp. 216-264 : 226

Ablabesmyia Johannsen ( Fig. 24 )

Head capsule narrow, yellowish-brownish. Dark occipital margin with two thorn-like projections ( Fig. 24 ). Mandible with single long apical tooth with dark tip and bluntly rounded inner tooth, mola protruding as large blunt or pointed tooth. Basal segment of maxillary palp subdivided into 2–6 segments (in subfossil material often 2–3 segments segments are visible) ( Fig. 24A ). Dorsomental teeth absent Ligula with 5 dark teeth, median tooth is the shortest, other gradually increase in size. Paraligula bifid, pecten hypopharyngis consists of up to 20 teeth of unequal size ( Fig. 24B ). In the fourth instar larvae, however, larvae of the third instar have pecten with 6-8 teeth of equal size.

Remarks: Important diagnostic features to distinguish heads of mature larvae from other Tanypodinae genera include segmented maxillary palp, thorn-like projections on occipital margin and unequal-sized teeth of pecten hypopharyngis. However, some of these structures occure in Zavrelimyia (s.str.), which has thorn like projection on occipital margin, and Zavrelimyia (Paramerina) that has segmented basal segment of maxillary palp (always 2 segments). Central European species of Ablabesmyia can be distinguished from these taxa by moderately to strongly concave row of ligula teeth, which is straight in Zavrelimyia (s. str.) and its subgenus Paramerina ).

It is present only in small Tatra Mts. lakes/ponds of low altitudes and relatively high trophy ( Novikmec et al. 2015; Hamerlík et al. 2017).

Remains of the genus were only recorded in small amounts in eight surveyed lakes/ ponds located mostly in coniferous forest zone at lower altitude.

Figures

FIGURES 24–27. Ablabesmyia longistyla-type: 24—head capsule (arrows indicate thorn-like projection and segmented maxillary palp), A—maxillary palp, B—pecten hypopharyngis. Macropelopia nebulosa-type: 25—head capsule, A—detail of ligula. Procladius: 26—head capsule (arrow indicates broad tooth on the mandible), A—detail of ligula (arrow indicates paraligula). Zavrelimyia: 27—head capsule (arrow indicates thorn-like projection).