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subgenus Chaetolabis (Chironomus subgenus Chaetolabis)
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Chironomus ochreatus
Photo#42611
Copyright © 2006
Lynette Elliott
Midge -
Chironomus ochreatus
Fort Bragg, Cumberland County, North Carolina, USA
June 19, 2005
I'm stumped. A fly with very long front legs!
Images of this individual:
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Contributed by
Lynette Elliott
on 11 February, 2006 - 8:40pm
Last updated 22 December, 2008 - 8:14am
Moved
Moved from
Chironomus
.
…
tom murray
, 22 December, 2008 - 8:14am
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Moved
Moved from
Chironominae
.
…
Lynette Elliott
, 21 December, 2008 - 10:31am
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Move to Chironomus for now
There is some question about the status of this species. It is variously (1) described as a synonym of
C. atroviridis
(which differs slightly in color)*, (2) placed in a separate genus
Chaetolabis
**, (3) considered valid***.
Chironomus
is a good place for this to wait resolution.
* Wiederholm, Ent. Scand. Suppl. 10, a reference which I have seen cited but not read
** Yamamoto 1987, https://qir.kyushu-u.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/2324/2498/1/149.pdf
*** ITIS taxonmy database, following Townes
…
John F. Carr
, 21 December, 2008 - 9:26am
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Probably Chironomus ochreatus
I think this is
Chironomus ochreatus
(Townes 1945).
The description matches except that the abdomen here is dark with paler markings on the back of each segment. Townes' description says "abdomen blackish brown, the basal segment mostly ochraceous." That may be an incomplete description. The European species for which this kind of midge used to be mistaken,
C. viridicollis
, does have pale edges on the abdominal segments. The close relative
C. atroviridis
is a less good match. After that would be
Xenochironomus dorneri
which is described as having three black-brown stripes, all of similar color, with no mention of the middle one being divided as here.
Townes' description:
Male: Wing 3.9mm long, leg ratio 1.7; antennal ratio 3.9; frontal tubercles very small, subspherical; fore tarsus without a beard.
Head ochraceous; pedicel brownish ochraceous; flagellum except base and palpus brown; thorax ochraceous; mesosternum and mesoscutal vittae brownish ochraceous; posterior part of postnotum brown; wing veins brown, the anterior ones darker; halter knob ochraceous; apex of fore femur and entire fore tibia and tarsus dark brown; middle and hind tarsi dark brown except towards the base; abdomen blackish brown, the basal segment mostly ochraceous.
Female: Median mesoscutal vitta dark brown and divided longitudinally by a pale line.
…
John F. Carr
, 20 December, 2008 - 9:11pm
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Any more pictures?
This is a decent match for
Chironomus ochreatus
(Townes). A closer view or a different angle would help. Can you estimate the size?
I still need to confirm that the stripe pattern on the thorax is unique.
…
John F. Carr
, 20 December, 2008 - 7:40pm
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Moved
Moved from
Midges
.
…
john and jane balaban
, 7 November, 2008 - 2:57pm
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Chironominae
This is subfamily Chironominae based on lack of M-Cu crossvein and first segment of front tarsus longer than tibia.
…
John F. Carr
, 6 November, 2008 - 3:29pm
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Midge
Hello Lynette,
It's a midge in the family Chironomidae! They are conspicious because of these front legs they hold in a certain hooked position. But indeed, this one has remarkably long front legs!
Greetings,
Gerard Pennards
…
Gerard Pennards
, 12 February, 2006 - 5:50am
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