Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) leei Freeman

Oyewo, Emmanuel Adeoye & Saether, Ole A., 2008, Revision of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) Kieffer and Ainuyusurika Sasa et Shirasaki (Diptera: Chironomidae), Zootaxa 1953, pp. 1-145 : 71-73

Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) leei Freeman

( Fig. 22)

Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) leei Freeman, 1961: 713 .

Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) leei (Freeman) ; Cranston (1996: 225).

Material examined. AUSTRALIA: Northern Territory, Creek 5 km E Edith River Crossing, male, 26– 28.viii.1995, M. Baehr ( ZSM No. 47) ; Queensland, Funnel Creek , 2 km S Clesmont-Marborough-G., male, 17–18.xi.1990, M. Baehr ( ZSM No. 37) .

Diagnostic characters. The male can be separated from other species with numerous setae on the wing membrane, uniformly colored abdomen, foretibial scale with spur, base of superior volsella bare and projection curved, by having the seta on the superior volsella projection placed 2/3 from base and the base with 4–5 inner setae. The inferior volsella is bilobed subapically, similar to P. (Pe.) reei which lacks spur on foretibia and has microtrichia on the base of superior volsella. The species is very similar to P. (Pe.) scirpicola which, however, lacks the bifurcation of the inferior volsella and has the seta on the superior volsella projection placed more basally. Pupal tergite II has only anterior spines and no shagreen as in P. (Pe.) exsectum , but can be distinguished as the latter has no shagreen on segment III. Conjunctives III / VI bare. Segments III – VI with both anterior spines and median and posterior shagreen, VII and VIII both with anterolateral spinules. Anal spur with 1 apical and about 4 inner teeth, plus several accessory points. The larva is characterized by having lateral teeth 3–6 subequal and median teeth slightly taller than 1st lateral. Premandible with 4–5 teeth.

Male (n = 2, unless otherwise stated)

Total length 3.06–3.27 mm. Wing length 2.07–2.17 mm. Total length / wing length 1.48–1.51. Wing length / length of profemur 2.40–2.49. Thorax completely dark brown; abdomen brown to dark brown with very thin pruinose apices; femur, tibia and tarsi brown.

Head ( Fig. 22B). AR 1.62–1.66. Ultimate flagellomere 729–782 µm long. Temporal setae 7–8, including 3 inner verticals, 2–3 outer verticals, and 2 postorbitals. Clypeus with 26–28 setae. Tentorium 143–145 µm long, 4–5 µm wide at sieve pore, 4–5 µm wide at posterior tentorial pit. Stipes 167–193 µm long. Palpomere lengths (in µm): 40–48, 51–63, 119–124, 145–155, 258. Fifth palpomere / third palpomere 2.08–2.17. Third palpomere with 2 sensilla clavata.

Thorax ( Fig. 22A). Scutal tubercle present. Acrostichals 10–13, dorsocentrals 18–27, prealars 6. Scutellum with 14–19 setae.

Wing. Wing lobe moderately reduced. VR 1.13–1.15. Brachiolum with 3–4 setae, R with 49–61, R 1 with 41–46, R 4+5 with 77–97, Sc with 27–30, RM with 2–3, M with 20–22, M 1+2 with 57–88, M 3+4 with 39–45, Cu with 34–44, Cu 1 with 24–26, PCu with 51, An with 27–39 setae. Cells r 4+5 and m 1+2 with numerous microtrichia, m 3+4 with more than 100, cell m basal of RM with 63–67, cu plus an with more than 100 macrotrichia. Squama with 8–9 setae.

Legs. Scale on foretibia ( Fig. 22C) 37–45 µm long, with 7–8 µm long apical spur. Spurs on midtibia 48– 57 µm long, on hind tibia 54–61 µm long. Comb on midtibia ( Fig. 22D) 17–26 µm long, combs on hind tibia ( Fig. 22E) 24–27 µm and 14–18 µm long. Width at apex of foretibia 46–52 µm, of midtibia 55–57 µm, of hind tibia 61 µm. Length and proportions of legs as in Table 26.

Hypopygium ( Fig. 22F). Tergite IX with 11–13 median setae, laterosternite IX with 2 setae. Anal point 77–80 µm long, 20–21 µm wide at base, gradually tapering to nearly parallel-sided towards 5–8 µm wide apex. Transverse sternapodeme 43–55 µm long; phallapodeme 81–93 µm long. Gonocoxite 157–138 µm long. Superior volsella ( Fig. 22H–J) 81–82 µm long, base bare with 3–5 inner setae, projection with 1 lateral seta. Inferior volsella bilobed (22G), 92–117 µm long; parallel sided, with prominent apical seta. Gonostylus 138–157 µm long. HR 1.18–1.37.

Pupa and larva

Illustrated and briefly described by Cranston (1996: 261).

Ecology and distribution. Known from Australia. According to Cranston (1996) the species seems quite pollution tolerant.