Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Chironomid from France [Chironomus (Chironomus) cf. commutatus]
Posted by lweit on 29-03-2012 20:01
#1
A new chironomid find near Metz and Thionville, in 29/03/2012
length : 10 mm
Thank you
Louis
Edited by lweit on 01-04-2012 16:31
Posted by lweit on 29-03-2012 20:03
#2
A wing
Posted by lweit on 29-03-2012 20:06
#3
The fore legs
Posted by lweit on 29-03-2012 20:07
#4
The pronotum
Posted by lweit on 29-03-2012 20:08
#5
The end of the abdomen
Posted by John Carr on 29-03-2012 23:25
#6
Chironomus (Chironomus)
Do you have a dorsal shot as close as that last ventral?
Posted by lweit on 31-03-2012 15:21
#7
Thank you John
A dorsal view
Posted by lweit on 31-03-2012 15:22
#8
A lateral view
Posted by John Carr on 31-03-2012 15:57
#9
The closest match I find in the key to British Chironomidae is
Chironomus commutatus, but I'm not convinced that is your species. It is distinguished from other British
Chironomus s. str. by the combination of fore tarsus without beard, color brown with pale hind margins of abdominal tergites, anal point slender and parallel-sided, and frontal tubercles large. The curved superior volsella and gonostylus expanded basally are consistent. All six characters are, individually, common in the genus and I do not have a description of the species or a guide to French species. Apparently this is a species of large lakes, while you are near large rivers.
So I'll say
Chironomus (Chironomus) cf.
commutatus Keyl.
The group was revised in 1973. I have not seen the paper.
Wülker, W., and A.M. Klötzli. 1973. Revision der Gattung Chironomus Meig. IV. Arten des lacunarius (commutatus-) Komplexes.- Arch. Hydrobiol.72: 474-489
Posted by lweit on 31-03-2012 20:56
#10
Thank you John
There is a river near the place i've caught this fly ?
Louis
Posted by John Carr on 31-03-2012 22:09
#11
The cities you named are along the Moselle River so I assumed the fly came from there. I see no large lakes nearby on the map. The species may be more diverse in habitat than suggested by my quick search, or it could be a similar species that lives in smaller water bodies.
Posted by lweit on 01-04-2012 17:40
#12
You're right John.
Thank you for your answer
Louis