Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2016-02-15
Page range: 429–447
Abstract views: 72
PDF downloaded: 82

Cryptic species in the nuisance midge Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae) and the status of Tripedilum Kieffer

Evolution, Ecology & Genetics, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia.
Genetics, Genomics & Development, School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia 3010.
SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany.
Diptera Chironominae taxonomy new species synonymy immature stages

Abstract

Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse, 1889), originally described from Australia, is an apparently widespread species of Chironomidae (Diptera) that can attain nuisance densities in some eutrophic water bodies. Appropriate management depends upon the identity and ability to distinguish from potential cryptic taxa. A morphological study of larvae, pupae and adults of both sexes confirmed P. nubifer as widely distributed and frequently abundant, but also revealed two previously cryptic species of limited distribution in northern Australia. These species are described as new and illustrated in all stages here. Polypedilum quasinubifer Cranston sp. n. is described from north-west Queensland, Australia and also from Thailand and Singapore. Polypedilum paranubifer Cranston sp. n. is known only from retention ponds of a uranium mine in Northern Territory, Australia. Unusual morphological features of P. nubifer including alternate Lauterborn organs on the larval antenna, cephalic tubules on the pupa and frontal tubercles on the adult head are present in both new species as well. Newly slide-mounted types of Polypedilum pelostolum Kieffer, 1912 (lectotype designated here) confirm synonymy to Chironomus nubifer Skuse, 1889, examined also as newly-slide mounted types. Reviewed plus new evidence does not support recognition of Tripedilum Kieffer, 1921 as a separate taxon; therefore, Tripedilum is returned to junior synonymy with Polypedilum s. str.

 

References

  1. Ashe, P. (1981) A taxonomic note on the genus Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) with an earlier date for the genus and designation of a type-species. Aquatic Insects, 3, 57–59.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01650428109361044

    Ashe, P. (1983) A catalogue of chironomid genera and subgenera of the world including synonyms (Diptera: Chironomidae). Entomologica scandinavica, 17 (Supplement), 1–68.

    Ashe, P. & Spies, M. (2011) A chronological bibliography, with dates of publication, of J. J. Kieffer’s works on Chironomidae (Diptera). In: Wang, X. & Liu, W. (Eds.), Contemporary Chironomid Studies — Proceedings of the 17th International Symposium on Chironomidae. Nankai University Press, Tianjin, pp. 3–14.

    Bugledich, E.M. & Cranston, P.S. (1999) "Family Chironomidae" in Zoological Catalogue of Australia, 30.1. ABRS, Canberra, 627 pp.

    Cranston, P.S. (1996) Identification Guide to the Chironomidae of New South Wales. AWT Identification Guide Number 1. Australian Water Technologies Pty Ltd, West Ryde, NSW, 375 pp.

    Cranston, P.S. (2000) August Thienemann's influence on modern chironomidology - an Australian perspective. Internationale Vereinigung fur Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie Verhandlungen, 27, 278–283.

    Cranston, P.S. (2007) The Chironomidae larvae associated with the tsunami-impacted waterbodies of the coastal plain of south-western Thailand. Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, 55, 231–244.

    Cranston, P.S. & Martin, J. (1989) 26. Family Chironomidae. In: Evenhuis, N.L. (Ed.), Catalog of the Diptera of the Australasian and Oceanian Regions. Bishop Museum Press and E.J. Brill, Honolulu and Leiden, pp. 252–274

    Cranston, P.S., Dillon, M., Pinder, L.C.V. & Reiss, F.R. (1989) Keys and diagnoses of the adult males of the subfamily Chironominae (Diptera, Chironomidae). Entomologica Scandinavica, 34 (Supplement), 353–502

    Cranston, P.S., Hardy, N.B. & Morse, G.E. (2011) A dated molecular phylogeny for the Chironomidae (Diptera). Systematic Entomology, 37, 172–188.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2011.00603.x

    Cranston, P.S., Ang, Y.C., Heyzer, A., Lim, R.B.H., Wong, W.H., Woodford, J.M. & Meier, R. (2013) The nuisance midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) of Singapore’s Pandan and Bedok reservoirs. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 61, 779–793.

    Ekrem, T., Stur, E. & Hebert, P.D.N. (2010) Females do count: Documenting Chironomidae (Diptera) species diversity using DNA barcoding. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 10, 397–408.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13127-010-0034-y

    Epler, J., Ekrem, T. & Cranston, P.S. (2013) The larvae of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region — Keys and diagnoses. In: Andersen, T., Cranston, P.S. & Epler, J.H. (Eds.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic Region: Keys and diagnoses, Part 1: Larvae. Insect Systematics and Evolution Supplements, 66, pp. 387–556.

    Freeman, P. (1954) Chironomidae (Diptera) from the Western Cape Province III. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London, Series B, Taxonomy, 23, 17–25.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1954.tb00085.x

    Freeman, P. (1958) A study of the Chironomidae (Diptera) of Africa south of the Sahara. Part IV. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology, 6, 261–363.

    Freeman, P. (1961) The Chironomidae of Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 9, 611–737.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/ZO9610611

    Gresens, S., Stur, E. & Ekrem, T. (2012) Phenotypic and genetic variation within the Cricotopus sylvestris species-group (Diptera, Chironomidae), across a Nearctic-Palaearctic gradient. Fauna norvegica, 31, 137–149.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.5324/fn.v31i0.1417

    ICZN (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature) (1999) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. 4th Edition. The International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature, London, 306 pp.

    Jacobsen, R.E. & Perry, S.A. (2007) Polypedilum nubifer, a chironomid midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) new to Florida that has nuisance potential. Florida Entomologist, 90, 264–267.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1653/0015-4040(2007)90[264:PNACMD]2.0.CO;2

    Kawai, K., Ohsugi, T., Goka, K. & Imabayashi, H. (2012) Genetic relationships among 22 Japanese species of Polypedilum (Chironomidae, Diptera). Medical Entomology and Zoology, 63, 313–317.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.7601/mez.63.313

    Kieffer, J.J. (1912) Tendipedidae (Chironomidae) [Dipt.]. In: H. Sauter’s Formosa-Ausbeute. Supplementa entomologica, 1, 27–43, pl. II.

    Kieffer, J.J. (1913) Nouveaux Chironomides (Tendipédides) d’Allemagne. Bulletin de la Société d'Histoire naturelle de Metz, 28, 7–35.

    Kieffer, J.J. (1921a) Synopse de la tribu des Chironomariae (Diptères) Annales de la Société scientifique de Bruxelles, 1re partie (Comptes Rendus), 40, 269–277.

    Kieffer, J.J. (1921b) Nouveaux représentants du genre Polypedilum (Chironomides) Annales de la Société scientifique de Bruxelles, 1re partie (Comptes Rendus), 41, 97–101.

    Kieffer, J.J. (1921c) Chironomides de l’Afrique Équatoriale (1re partie) Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 90, 1–56.

    Kieffer, J.J. (1922) Chironomides de l’Afrique Équatoriale (2e partie) Annales de la Société entomologique de France, 91, 1–72.

    Kobayashi, T. & Endo, K. (2008) Synonymic notes on some species of Chironomidae (Diptera) described by Dr M. Sasa. Zootaxa, 1712, 49–64.

    Krosch, M.N., Vink, S., Baker, A.M. & Cranston, P.S. (2015) Molecular data extend Australian Cricotopus midge (Chironomidae) species diversity, and provide a phylogenetic hypothesis for biogeography and freshwater monitoring. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 175 (3), 496–509.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12284

    Lin, X., Stur, E. & Ekrem T (2015) Exploring genetic divergence in a species-rich insect genus using 2790 DNA Barcodes. PLoS ONE, 10 (9), e0138993.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0138993

    McKie, B.G. & Cranston, P.S. (2005) Size matters: systematic and ecological implications of allometry in the responses of chironomid midge morphological ratios to experimental temperature manipulations. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 83, 553–568.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z05-051

    Pinder, L.C.V. & Reiss F. (1983) The larva of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. In: Wiederholm, T. (Ed.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 1. Larvae. Entomologica scandinavica, 19 (Supplement), pp. 293–435.

    Pinder, L.C.V. & Reiss, F. (1986) The pupae of Chironominae (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. In: Wiederholm, T. (Ed.), Chironomidae of the Holarctic region. Keys and diagnoses. Part 2. Pupae. Entomologica scandinavica, 28 (Supplement), pp. 299–456.

    Porter, D.L. & Martin, J. (1977) The cytology of Polypedilum nubifer (Diptera; Chironomidae). Caryologia, 30, 41–62.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00087114.1977.10796680

    Sæther, O.A. (1969) Some nearctic Podonominae, Diamesinae, and Orthocladiinae (Diptera: Chironomidae). Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 170, 1–154.

    Sæther, O.A. (1979) Hierarchy of the Chironomidae with special emphasis on the female genitalia (Diptera). Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement, 10, 17–26.

    Sæther, O.A., Andersen, T., Pinho, L.C. & Mendes, H.F. (2010) The problems with Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae), with the description of Probolum subgen.n. Zootaxa, 2497, 1–36.

    Sasa, M. (1979) A morphological study of adults and immature stages of 20 Japanese species of the family Chironomidae (Diptera). Research Reports of the National Institute of Environmental Studies, 7, 1–148.

    Sasa, M. & Sublette, J.E. (1980) Synonymy, distribution, and morphological notes on Polypedilum (s.s.) nubifer (Skuse) (Diptera: Chironomidae). Japanese Journal of Sanitary Zoology, 31, 93–102.

    Sasa, M., Suzuki, H. & Sakai, T. (1998) Studies on the chironomid species collected on the shore of Shimanto River in April, 1998. Part 1. Description of species of the subfamily Chironominae. Tropical Medicine, 40, 47–89.

    Silva, F.L., Ekrem, T. & Fonseca-Gessner, A.A. (2013) DNA barcodes for species delimitation in Chironomidae (Diptera): a case study on the genus Labrundinia. The Canadian Entomologist, 145, 589–602.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2013.44

    Silva, F.L. & Wiedenbrug, S. (2014) Integrating DNA barcodes and morphology for species delimitation in the Corynoneura group (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) Bulletin of Entomological Research, 104, 65–78.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007485313000515

    Skuse, F.A.A. (1889) Diptera of Australia. Part VI. The Chironomidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales, 2, 215–311.

    Stur, E, & Ekrem, T. (2015) A review of Norwegian Gymnometriocnemus (Diptera, Chironomidae) including the description of two new species and a new name for Gymnometriocnemus volitans (Goetghebuer) sensu Brundin. ZooKeys, 508, 127–142. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.508.9874

    Tabaru, Y., Moriya, K. & Ali, A. (1987) Nuisance midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) and their control in Japan. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 3, 45–49.

    Trayler, K.M., Pinder, A.M. & Davis, J.A. (1994) Evaluation of the juvenile hormone mimic pyriproxyfen (S-31183) against nuisance chironomids (Diptera: Chironomidae), with particular emphasis on Polypedilum nubifer (Skuse) Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, 33, 127–130.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1994.tb00937.x

    Tokunaga, M. (1936) Chironomidae from Japan (Diptera) VII. New species and a new variety of the genus Chironomus Meigen. Philippine Journal of Science, 60, 71–85.

    Wong, W.H., Tay, Y.W., Puniatmoorthy, J., Balke, M., Cranston, P.S. & Meier, R. (2014) ‘Direct PCR’ optimization yields a rapid, cost-effective, nondestructive and efficient method for obtaining DNA barcodes without DNA extraction. Molecular Ecology Resources, 14, 1271–1280.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.12275

    Yamamoto, M., Yamamoto, M. & Hirowatari T. (2012a) Three new species of the genus Polypedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the Yaeyama Islands, Japan. Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology, 18, 75–83.

    Yamamoto, N., Hirowatari, T. & Yamamoto, M. (2012b) The subgenus Pentapedilum Kieffer (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Yaeyama Islands, the Ryukyus, Japan. Zootaxa, 3191, 33–40.

    Yamamoto, N. & Yamamoto, M. (2015) A revised subgeneric position of Polypedilum (Probolum) simantokeleum, with description of a new Uresipedilum species in Japan (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa, 3999 (3), 439–445.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3999.3.9

    Zhang, R., Song, C., Wang, L. & Wang, X. (2015) Two new species of the acifer species group of Polypedilum subgenus Tripodura Townes from China (Diptera: Chironomidae). Zootaxa, 3918 (4), 571–578.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3918.4.6