The Nuisance Midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) Of Singapore’S Pandan And Bedok Reservoirs
Author
Cranston, P. S.
Author
Ang, Y. C.
Author
Heyzer, A.
Author
Lim, R. B. H.
Author
Wong, W. H.
text
Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
2013
2013-08-30
61
2
779
793
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.5353040
2345-7600
5353040
Polypedilum nubifer
(Skuse)
Material examined
.
— (
Singapore
material only cited).
Many
larvae, some pupae from
Pandan, U
. Pierce,
Bedok
,
Poyan Reservoirs
,
Oct.2008
, coll.
NUS
team including from colonisation experiments. Deposited
ANIC
,
ZRC
.
Molecular
vouchers
: “Pnub”,
Singapore
,
Pandan
reservoir, between points 4 and 5,
6 Oct.2012
, coll.
Ang
; CP28, 30, larvae, Pandan reservoir, between points 4 and 5,
18 Jul.2012
, coll.
Ang
;
ZRC
.
Figs. 37–42. Midges as nuisance in Singapore.
Tanytarsus oscillans
larva: 37, lateral head, 38, posterior abdomen; 39, dorsal head; 40, dorsal view of head, antennal bases, S3 setae; 41, antenna; 42, mentum. Abbreviations: LO, Lauterborn organ; S3, cephalic seta; m, mentum; vmp, ventromental plate.
Description
.
—
Polypedilum nubifer
has been described and illustrated adequately in all stages by, amongst others,
Freeman (1961)
, Sasa & Sublette (1980), Chattopadhyay et al. (1988), Cranston & Judd (1989), and Cranston (2000, 2007).
To assist in recognition we provide images including habitus photographs of all stages: adult male (
Figs. 1–5
), adult female (
Figs. 6, 7
), egg masses (
Figs. 8, 9
), pupae (
Figs. 12–15
), and larvae (
Figs. 17–25
).
A feature requiring consideration, and perhaps further study, is the apparent variation in the larval antenna. Variously described as 4, 5 or 6 segmented, the delimitation of segments is unclear. The Lauterborn organs, alternate and opposite on segment 2 (unique in the genus) can be considered apical on the two parts of a divided second segment, but the distinctness of division into 2 varies and can be difficult to verify. Equally, the number of segments distal to the apical Lauterborn organ seems to be three, but in some specimen preparations appears to be only two. Scanning electron microscopy by Sasa & Sublette (1980) helps, despite the external surface of the segment and the hyaline membrane between not differing in their reflection of electrons. Clearly from their fig. 27 there are 3 post apical Lauterborn organ segments, and the preceding segment (the 2
nd
) has a break near the midpoint that should represent at least a weakened area in mid-segment.