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Research Article
Two new species and one new record of Parakiefferiella Thienemann, 1936 from China (Diptera, Chironomidae)
expand article infoWenbin Liu‡, Bingjiao Sun‡, Chuncai Yan§, Chao Song‡, Xinhua Wang‡
‡ Nankai University, Tianjin, China
§ Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China

Corresponding author: Xinhua Wang ( xhwang@nankai.edu.cn )

Academic editor: Fabio Laurindo da Silva
© 2015 Wenbin Liu, Bingjiao Sun, Chuncai Yan, Chao Song, Xinhua Wang.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Liu W, Sun B, Yan C, Song C, Wang X (2015) Two new species and one new record of Parakiefferiella Thienemann, 1936 from China (Diptera, Chironomidae). ZooKeys 545: 139-148. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.545.6000
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FEC231B1-B08E-4008-92C7-2D319E551C42
Open Access

Abstract

Two new species of the genus Parakiefferiella Thienemann, 1936 (P. fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n. and P. liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n.) are described as adult males from China. Parakiefferiella tamatriangulata Sasa is recorded from China for the first time. A key to the known adult males of Parakiefferiella from China is presented. The generic diagnosis of male Parakiefferiella given by Cranston et al. (1989) is emended.

Keywords

Chironomidae, Parakiefferiella, new species, key, taxonomy

Introduction

The genus Parakiefferiella was erected by Thienemann in 1936, with P. coronata (Edwards, 1929) as type species. According to Cranston et al. (1989), it can be separated from other orthoclad genera by the following combination of characters: eyes bare, without dorsomedial extension; acrostichals absent but scutum with median tuft of microtrichia, sometimes on hump; wing membrane without setae, with fine punctation; squama bare; transverse sternapodeme gently curved, with developed oral projections. Virga strongly developed. Gonostylus with more or less well pronounced curve or bend and slight or absent crista dorsalis. Larval stages of the genus are found in both running and standing waters. Adults fly during spring and summer, rarely in large numbers.

The genus is probably quite speciose. Tuiskunen (1986) described four new species and redescribed eight species from Fennoscandian region. Moubayed (1991, 1994) and recently Moubayed-Breil and Langton (2004) described three additional species: P. pyrenaica Moubayed, 1991 (France); P. wuelkeri Moubayed, 1994 (western Europe and north Africa); P. normandiana Moubayed-Breil & Langton, 2004 (France, Germany and England). According to the catalog of Japanese Orthocladiinae (Yamamoto 2004), ten valid species were record in Japan. Nine species were reported in the Russian Far East by Makarchenko and Makarchenko (2010). To date, 44 species of the genus have been recorded worldwide, of which 33 are Palaearctic, seven are Nearctic, three are Oriental, four are Neotropical and four are Afrotropical (Ashe and O’Connor 2012; Ree, Nam and Jeong 2012).

So far, three species of the genus (P. bathophila (Kieffer, 1912), P. coronata (Edwards, 1929) and P. tipuliformis (Tokunaga, 1940)) were recorded in China (Wang 2000). The species P. tipuliformis (Tokunaga, 1940) from Taiwan province previously placed in Spaniotoma (Smittia) by Tokunaga (1940) was transferred to Parakiefferiella by Sasa and Kikuchi (1995). The species diagnostic characters fit the genus Parakiefferiella. Moreover, P. coronata (Edwards, 1929) was recorded just as larval stage (Wang 2000).

Based on specimens from China, two new species are described in this paper, and a key to the species of Parakiefferiella in China is provided.

Materials and methods

Morphology and terminology follow Sæther (1980). The material examined was slide-mounted following the procedures outlined by Sæther (1969). Measurements are given as the range followed by the mean. Color is described as observed in specimen preserved in alcohol. The specimens examined in this study are deposited in the College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, China (BDN).

Taxonomy

Parakiefferiella Thienemann, 1936

Emended diagnosis

Based on the material examined and references, the generic diagnosis of male Parakiefferiella (Cranston et al. 1989) must be emended as follows: antenna with 12–13 or occasionally with five (P. gynocera (Edwards, 1937)) or ten (P. fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n. and P. liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n.) flagellomeres; wing anal lobe weakly to moderately developed (P. bathophila (Kieffer, 1912)); R and R1 with few setae, occasionally all veins bare (P. fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n. and P. liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n.); anal point with 2–8 basal setae, sometimes bare (P. fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n.).

Parakiefferiella fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/4FC0DE0C-3F8D-4746-938E-DBD5E5188AB6
Figs 1–7

Type material

Holotype: ♂ (BDN. No.1165), China, Shandong Province, Yantai City, Kunyu Mountain, 37°30'10"N, 121°23'40"E, 24.viii.1987, sweeping net, Wang XH. The specimens were sealed with Canada balsam on slides. Paratypes: 3 ♂♂, data as holotype.

Diagnosis

The adult male can be distinguished from known species of the genus by the following combination of characters: anal point lacking keel, very broad at base, rounded apically, without basal setae; virga consisting of four spines; antenna with ten flagellomeres, AR 0.47–0.50; tergites III and VIII dark brown, others tergites pale yellow; HR 1.98–2.06; HV 2.65–3.00.

Description

Male imago (n = 4). Total length 1.04–1.09, 1.07 mm. Wing length 0.71–0.72, 0.71 mm. Total length/wing length 1.45–1.56, 1.47. Wing length/length of profemur 3.24–3.29, 3.26.

Coloration. Head brown. Thorax brown with dark spot. Tergites (Fig. 4) III and VIII dark brown, others tergites pale yellow.

Figures 1–7. 

Parakiefferiella fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n., male. 1 wing 2 antenna 3 thorax 4 abdomen tergites coloration 5 hypopygium (dorsal view) 6 inferior; 7 hypopygium (ventral view).

Head. Antenna (Fig. 2) with ten flagellomeres. AR 0.47–0.50, 0.49. Ultimate flagellomere 137–144, 140 μm long. Inner vertical 1. Clypeus with four setae. Tentorium 55–72, 66 μm long, 5–7, 6 μm wide. Palpomere lengths (in μm): 10–12, 11; 14–19, 16; 26–29, 28; 43–48, 47; 88–96, 92. L: 5th/3rd : 3.26–3.55, 3.43

Wing (Fig. 1). Anal lobe reduced. VR 1.12–1.21, 1.17. Costal extension 40 μm long. Brachiolum with one seta. All veins bare. Squama bare.

Thorax (Fig. 3). Antepronotal lobes developed. Antepronotum with one lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 2–4, 3; one prealars. Scutellum with 2–6, 5 setae. Mesonotum with a tuft of hairs.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 24–25, 24 μm long; spurs of mid tibia 9–12, 11 μm and 12–14, 13 μm long; spurs of hind tibia 9–10, 9 μm and 20–22, 21 μm long. Hind tibial comb with 9–12, 11 spines, 19–38, 30 μm long. Width at apex of fore tibia 17–19, 19 mm, of mid tibia 19–20, 19 mm, of hind tibia 21–24, 23 mm. Lengths (in μm) and proportions of legs as in Table 1.

Table 1.
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Lengths (in μm) and proportions of legs of Parakiefferiella fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n. (n = 4)

P1 P2 P3
fe 216–220, 219 288–300, 293 240–258, 256
ti 247–264, 254 240–249, 243 276–282, 278
ta1 120–130, 121 108–120, 112 124–139, 131
ta2 57–67, 59 57–67, 62 60–68, 66
ta3 48–52, 49 43–48, 47 67–76, 71
ta4 29–31, 30 29–31, 30 40–43, 41
ta5 31–36, 34 30–33, 32 33–38, 34
LR 0.45–0.52, 0.48 0.41–0.44, 0.43 0.45–0.51, 0.48
BV 3.33–3.53, 3.43 3.61–3.87, 3.73 3.07–3.10, 3.09
SV 3.86–4.00, 3.98 4.89–5.00, 4.90 3.88–4.13, 4.01
BR 2.50–2.75, 2.71 3.08–3.25, 3.12 3.50–3.75, 3.54

Hypopygium (Figs 5–7). Anal point triangular and hyaline, very broad at base, with rounded apex and without basal seta. Laterosernite IX with 2–4, 3 setae. Phallapodeme 20–24, 23 μm long. Transverse sternapodeme 48–54, 53 μm long. Virga consisting of four spines, 20 –35, 25 μm long. Tergites III and VIII bearing colored bands. Gonocoxite 72–74, 73 μm long, outer margins concave medially. Superior volsella absent; inferior volsella rounded and very large, occupying nearly half of the total length of gonocoxite, lacking dorsal setae and densely covered with microtrichia (Fig. 6); ventral margin strongly swollen medially. Gonostylus 36–38, 37 μm long, anterior margin nearly straight, posterior margin slightly curved in dorsal view. Megaseta 5–7, 7 μm long. Crista dorsalis reduced, slightly visible in lateral view. HR 1.98–2.06, 2.01. HV 2.65–3.00, 2.75.

Etymology

The specific name is from Latin fasciata, referring to different colored bands in its tergites.

Remarks

The new described species is distinguished from all other Parakiefferiella species by the following unusual combination of characters: antenna with ten flagellomeres; tergites III and VIII with colored bands; anal point lacking both dorsal setae and keel; absence of dorsal setae on inferior volsella, which is bearing only microtrichia.

While the new species close related to P. coronata (Edwards, 1929; Makarchenko and Makarchenko 2010). However, the new species differs from the latter on the basis of following characters: (1) the antenna of the new species with ten flagellomeres, whereas P. coronata has 13 flagellomeres; (2) the superior volsella of P. coronata is large, whereas in the new species it is absent; (3) the new species has abdomen pale yellow with tergites III-VIII dark brown, whereas P. coronata has abdomen dark with tergites IV, VI-VII shiny.

Female and immature stages unknown.

Parakiefferiella liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/816E951D-6283-4643-9640-C9EDC141A97E
Figs 8–13

Type material

Holotype: ♂ (BDN. No.1168), China, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Liupan Mountain, Erlong river, 35°38'40"N, 106°31'40"E, 6.viii.1987, sweeping method, Wang XH. Paratypes: 4 ♂♂, as holotype.

Diagnosis

The adult male can be distinguished from known species of the genus by the following combination of characters: anal point obtuse triangular with pointed and hyaline apex, lacking keel and bearing four setae placed laterally (two on each side); antenna with ten flagellomeres; all of the veins bare; inferior volsella square with rounded inner margin, not projected, occupying about half of the gonocoxite length, lacking dorsal setae and covered with microtrichia; ventral margin swollen medially; AR 0.33–0.37; HR 2.20–2.28; HV 2.36–2.43.

Description

Male imago (n = 5). Total length 1.20–1.25, 1.23 mm. Wing length 0.78–0.85, 0.81 mm. Total length/wing length 1.45–1.47, 1.46. Wing length/length of profemur 3.38–3.58, 3.45.

Coloration of preserved specimens. Head and tergites brown. Thorax brown with dark spot.

Head. Antenna (Fig. 9) with ten flagellomeres. AR 0.33–0.37. Ultimate flagellomere 108–115, 112 μm long. Temporal seta one, including one outer vertical. Clypeus with 3–4 setae. Tentorium 62–72, 69 μm long, 7–9, 8 μm wide. Palpomere lengths (in μm): 12–14, 13; 24–26, 25; 28–34, 31; 28–36,32; 52–54, 53. L: 5th/3rd : 1.61–1.83, 1.81.

Wing (Fig. 8). Anal lobe moderate reduced. VR 1.02–1.18, 1.14. Costal extension 40 μm long. Brachiolum with one seta. All of the veins bare. Squama bare.

Figures 8–13. 

Parakiefferiella liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n., male. 8 wing 9 antenna 10 thorax 11 hypopygium (dorsal view) 12 inferior 13 hypopygium (ventral view).

Thorax (Fig. 10). Antepronotal lobes developed. Antepronotum with one lateral seta. Dorsocentrals 5–7, 6; acrostichals absent; two prealars. Scutellum with four setae. Mesonotum with a tuft of hairs.

Legs. Spur of fore tibia 12–21, 18 μm long; spurs of mid tibia 9–12, 11 μm and 12–14, 13 μm long; spurs of hind tibia 9–10, 9 μm and 20–22, 21 μm long. Hind tibial comb with 9–12, 10 spines, 19–38, 23 μm long. Width at apex of fore tibia 19–22, 20 mm, of mid tibia 12–22, 17 mm, of hind tibia 18–22, 21 mm. Lengths (in μm) and proportions of legs as in Table 2.

Table 2.
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Lengths (in μm) and proportions of legs of Parakiefferiella liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n. (n = 5).

P1 P2 P3
fe 236–242, 239 264–272, 268 239–248, 241
ti 288–302, 298 216–241, 232 252–272, 265
ta1 141–153, 145 108–120, 109 132–137, 136
ta2 98–116, 111 60–64, 63 72–80, 74
ta3 72–76, 74 50–54, 52 74–79, 76
ta4 36–40, 38 26–31, 29 36–48, 43
ta5 31–36, 34 30–33, 31 33–38, 36
LR 0.49–0.53, 0.51 0.45–0.50, 0.49 0.48–0.52, 0.50
BV 2.62–2.72, 2. 65 3.61–3.66, 3.63 2.85–2.89, 2.87
SV 3.50–3.66, 3.61 4.69–4.77, 4.71 3.73–3.84, 3.79
BR 1.25–1.75, 1.50 2.50–2.75, 2.60 3.40–3.75, 3.60

Hypopygium (Figs 11–13). Anal point obtuse triangular with pointed and hyaline apex, lacking keel and bearing 4 setae placed laterally (2 on each side). Laterosernite IX with 2–4, 3 setae. Phallapodeme 19–21, 20 μm long. Transverse sternapodeme, straight 44–48, 46 μm long. Virga consisting of two spines, 20 –25, 23 μm long. Gonocoxite 79–82, 80 μm long. Superior volsella absent; inferior volsella square, occupying about half of the gonocoxite length, lacking dorsal setae and covered with microtrichia (Fig. 12); ventral margin swollen medially. Gonostylus 36–38, 37 μm long, narrowed apically, distinctly bent and curved inward in dorsal view; crista dorsal absent. Megaseta 5–7, 7 μm long. Without crista dorsalis. HR 2.20–2.28, 2.23. HV 2.36–2.43, 2.41.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the Liupan Mountain where the species was collected.

Remarks

The new species can easily be separated from other related Parakiefferiella species by the following characters: antenna with 10 segments; anal point square, lacking keel and bearing four setae laterally; inferior volsella without dorsal setae and covered with microtrichia.

P. liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n. is closely related to P. bathophila (Kiffer, 1912). However, the new species differs from the latter on the basis of the following characters: (1) the antenna of the new species with ten flagellomeres, whereas P. bathophila possesses 13 flagellomeres; (2) the hypopygium of P. bathophila with triangular superior volsella, whereas in the new species it is absent; (3) the anal point of the new species obtuse triangular, not tapered apically, whereas P. bathophila gradually tapered to apex; (4) the shape of inferior volsella in the new species square, without dorsal setae, whereas P. bathophila triangular, with dorsal setae.

Female and immature stages unknown.

Parakiefferiella tamatriangulata Sasa,1981

Parakiefferiella tamatriangulata Sasa, 1981: 94; Sasa and Arakawa 1994: 99.

Specimens examined

1 ♂, Liaoning Province, Dandong City, Fengcheng County, 40°51'00"N, 124°07'00"E, 25.iv. 1992, Sweeping net, Wang JC.

Diagnostic characters

Total length 2.06–2.29 mm. Wing length 1.02–1.37 mm. AR 0.38–0.53. Anal lobe reduced. Laterosernite IX with five setae. Phallapodeme 36–38 μm long. Transverse sternapodeme 74–81 μm long. Anal point small, triangular and with pointed apex, bare and hyaline excepting the basal portion with microtrichia. Inferior volsella semicircular, bearing dorsal setae. Gonostylus 6 μm long, narrowed apically, distinctly bent and curved inward in dorsal view. Megaseta 10 μm long. HR 2.18. HV 1.56.

Remarks

The Chinese specimens mainly agree with the original description by Sasa (1981), but they have higher AR (0.53) than the specimens from Japan (0.38–0.48).

Distribution

China (Palaearctic China: Liaoning Province), Japan.

Key to known adult males of the genus Parakiefferiella in China

1 Tergites banded 2
– Tergites unicolor 3
2 Tergites III and VIII dark brown, others pale yellow; all veins bare P. fasciata Liu & Wang, sp. n.
– All tergites with a narrow dark band on caudal margin; veins very delicate and colorless P. tipuliformis (Tokunaga)
3 Antenna with 13 flagellomeres; inferior volsella triangular or semicircular, bearing dorsal setae 4
– Antenna with 10 flagellomeres; inferior volsella square lacking dorsal setae P. liupanensis Liu & Wang, sp. n.
4 Anal lobe developed; inferior volsella large, roughly triangular P. bathophila (Kieffer)
– Anal lobe reduced; inferior volsella semicircular P. tamatriangulata Sasa

Acknowledgements

Financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, grant No. 31272284; 31301908; 31460572; J1210005), Fauna of China (FY120100) and Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (14JCQNJC14600) are acknowledged with thanks. We are grateful to Bingchun Ji and Yufen Li who made parts of slide preparations.

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