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Hi everyone,

First post here. This is a female chironomid I found in my city, close to Paris in France. Using the handbook for the identification of British Chironomidae, I found Cricotopus bicinctus. This was also posted on insecte.org and Eugène Vandebeulque thought it was a good idea but that deserves confirmation here, so here am I.

Thank you for your help!

Cédric



Cédric Mondy : France : Saint-Maur-des-Fossés : 94100 : 02/05/2021
Altitude : 40 m - Taille : 2.8 mm
Réf. : 285013

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It could be Cricotopus bicinctus. There is a similar species C. vierriensis which is known from France but not the UK. Hirvenoja (1973) noted a size difference:

Flügellänge der untersuchten Populationen 2.0 (1.5 - 2.5) mm. [...] bicinctus
Flügellänge 1.8 (1.5 - 1.9) mm [...] vierriensis

The omitted parts relate to bristles on the legs which are not visible here.

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Thank you John!
So, for this one with a wing length of about 2.5mm it would be too long for vierriensis and therefore confirm bicinctus, am I right?

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If Hirvenoja's size range is correct and there are no two-banded species in other species groups. I only looked at the key to the bicinctus group.

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Yes, I understand! Thank you for your help and the information!