Polypedilum

Saether, Ole A., Andersen, Trond, Pinho, Luiz C. & Mendes, Humberto F., 2010, The problems with Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), with the description of Probolum subgen. n., Zootaxa 2497, pp. 1-36 : 14-15

Polypedilum subgenus Kribionympha Kieffer

Kribionympha Kieffer, 1921a: 271 ; 1921c: 29; 1922: 7.

Type species

Polypedilum (Kribionympha) declivis (Kieffer) Kribionympha declivis Kieffer, 1922: 7 .

Other possibly included species

Polypedilum unigaquartum Sasa

Polypedilum unigaquartum Sasa, 1985: 41 .

Diagnostic characters. The male imagines can be separated from those of other subgenera by having frontal tubercles, the superior volsella with an inner lobe nearly as long as the curved lobe and a tapering projection carrying an outer seta, the fore tibial scale triangular with short spur and the wing membrane unmarked without setae.

Remarks. The combination of characters is quite unique within Polypedilum . The superior volsella shows some resemblance with Uresipedilum and the new subgenus described below, but those subgenera do not have any seta on the projection of superior volsella, a dissimilar inner lobe on the base and no frontal tubercles. There also is resemblance with Tripedilum in the presence of frontal tubercles and the stout gonostylus. However, there is some doubt whether the type species as redescribed by Freeman (1958: 289) is identical to the species described by Kieffer. The type material must be considered as lost. However, rather than regard Kribionympha and P. (K.) declivis as nomina dubia we here regard the redescription by Freeman as correct in order to retain the subgeneric name.

Polypedilum unigaquartum Sasa, 1985 has frontal tubercles, the superior volsella projection carries an outer seta, the front tibial scale is triangular with spur and the wings unmarked without setae. However, the general shape of the hypopygium is more like most Polypedilum s. str. The species can belong here, to Tripedilum or to Polypedilum s. str.