Page 3.2 - couplet 2' should start: "Maxillary palp with 2-6 segments".

Page 6.38 - DIAGNOSIS should read "mandible with seta interna and three inner teeth;".  The second paragraph under NOTES should read " The outermost tooth of the mentum can be considered to be bifid; the mentum may thus appear to have five lateral teeth."

page 6.65 - Parametriocnemus larvae may have five ("normally") OR six (in P. sp. F) segmented antennae and may have a pecten galearis on the maxilla (P. sp. F)

page 7.22 - couplet 65 should go to 67, not 69

page 7.108 - couplet 3' should read "Pedicels not annulated; 2 or 3 inner teeth on mandible" (Tanytarsus sp. O can appear to have either 2 or 3 inner mandibular teeth)

Cantopelopia gesta will key to M. tillandsia on page 3.47, but can be separated by the large inner teeth on three of the smaller claws of each  posterior parapod; M. tillandsia has very small spines on the inner margin of the smaller posterior parapod claws. Note also that M. tillandsia is apparently restricted to bromeliad phytotelmata; this species is not to be expected where such phytotelmata do not occur!  At present it appears that M. tillandsia  is known only from Florida in the continental U.S.

Note that another phytotelmatic species of  Monopelopia occurs in Jamaica; I recently described this new species as M. mikeschwartzi (Epler & Janetzky 1999). Monopelopia mikeschwartzi also bears smaller claws with inner teeth as in Cantopelopia gesta, but in M. mikeschwartzi there are only two such claws on each posterior parapod. It appears that the inner teeth of these claws in Cantopelopia are subequal, while in M. mikeschwartzi the teeth are more varied in size. Monopelopia mikeschwartzi is, as far as is known, restricted to phytotelmata in Jamaica.

For a PDF version of a key to the Monopelopia larvae of the Southeast US that includes the larva of Cantopelopia gesta, click here. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free download from Adobe, to view/print the file. Note that this file is a draft of the section that will be included in the new identification manual for the larval chironomids of the Carolinas.  NOTE that an earlier version of this key had some typos; it has been replaced (23 Jan 2000) by a correct version!!!!!!!!
23-i-2000

7(6') Ventromental plates long, extending well past posterolateral margin of mentum, plates without weak vertical ridges ........ N. minimus

7'     Ventromental plates ending near posterolateral margin of mentum; if plates appear more extended, then with weak vertical ridges ..  8

8(7') Claws of anterior parapods mostly smooth; posterior edge of mentum makes an almost right angle with posterior margin of ventromental plate .... N. alternantherae

8'     Claws of anterior parapods moderately to strongly pectinate; posterior edge of mentum curves smoothly (see fig. for N. crassicornus) .. N. crassicornus and N. rectinervis

These last two species apparently can not be separated as larvae (although measurements of the basal antennal segment may separate them; see Simpson & Bode (1980)), but pupae differ in that the thoracic horn of N. crassicornus is ovoid, while that of N. rectinervis is more digitiform (see Sæther 1977 for figures). Note that in prepupal larvae, the thoracic horn is visible through the larval integument, so don't throw up your hands in despair!  But you will have to realize that without associated pupae you may have to settle for an identification of N. crassicornus/rectinervis - won't that be fun to write out on data sheets!? AND REMEMBER, accurate identification of any of the four above species requires associated pupae!!  4-viii-98

DISREGARD THE ABOVE DETERMINATION OF "CORYNOCERA".  After examining associated pupae with pharate male genitalia within, it appears the beast is a Tanytarsus.  Stay tuned for further developments!!!
1-xii-1998

NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN CHANGED since last posted on 4-viii-1999.  Re-examination of Tanytarsus sp. Y show it to be a variant of T. sp. K!!

12       Median tooth margined  ..................................................................................................................13

12'      Median tooth simple or weakly trifid ............................................................................................  12A

12A    Supraanal setae much longer than anal tubules; antennal segment 2 very short, segment 3 < 4 ... T. sp. H

12A'   Supraanal setae less than or subequal to anal tubules; antennae not as above  .................................  12B

12B    Sclerotized length of segment 2 divided by the length of segment 1 < 0.2  .................................. T. sp. X

12B'   Sclerotized length of segment 2 divided by the length of segment 1  > 0.3   ................................ T. sp. J

13      Clypeal setae arise from pointed pedestals    ........................................................................... T. sp. K

13'     Clypeal setae do not arise from pedestals (there may be a raised near base of seta) ........................   T. sp R

AND change couplet 18 to read:

18(15')   Supraanal setae shorter than or subequal to anal tubules  .................................................  18a

18'          Supraanal setae much longer than anal tubules  .................................................................  19

18a (18) Premandibles usually apically darkened; antennal segment 2 about 1/4 length of segment 1;
              median tooth of mentum shallowly trifid  ..................................................................    T. sp. G

18a'       Premandibles light; antennal segment 2 about 2/5 length of segment 1; median tooth of mentum
              deeply trifid   ...........................................................................................................    T. sp. Q
6-v-2001

Oyewo, E.A. & O.A. Sæther. 1998. Revision of the Afrotropical Polypedilum Kieffer subgen. Uresipedilum Sasa et Kikuchi, 1995 (Diptera: Chironomidae), with a review of the subgenus. Annls. Limnol. 34: 315-362.

Note that Polypedilum obtusum Townes is now considered a junior synonym of P. flavum, so there no longer is a need to use "P. flavum group".  As far as I know, the "true" P. convictum does not occur in North America; adults males are very similar, but the larvae are quite different (see further discussion under P. convictum in my manual).  Perhaps further research will show that both species occur in the Nearctic, but characters to separate the adult males will have to be found first!
3-v-1999

The single larva thought to be an undescribed species of Hudsonimyia from NW FL is a mangled member of the Thienemannimyia group, probably a Meropelopia.
The single larva of an apparently undescribed species of Krenopelopia from northern Florida is a Natarsia (aberrant?) with extremely long Lauterborn organs.

Both genera have been removed from the Florida checklist - but this doesn't mean that they might not eventually show up in Florida.
2-x-1999

Polypedilum (Asheum) beckae (Sublette) is the only species affected by this in the US at this time; P. braseniae (Leathers) may also belong in P. (Asheum) (Sæther & Sundal 1999: 327).

The only P. (Cerobregma) species we have in the Nearctic is P. (Cerobregma) ontario (Walley).

This new subgenus means that we now have 6 subgenera of Polypedilum in the Nearctic: Asheum, Cerobregma, Pentapedilum, Polypedilum, Tripodura and Uresipedilum.
17-xii-1999

This publication adds three species to the Florida checklist: P. angulum, P. falciforme and P. nymphaeorum.  These are all members of the P. illinoense group and can not be realistically identified in the larval stage without associated males!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8-vi-2000

The larva tentatively identified as "  "Mesosmittia" sp. " on page 6.51 is most likely a Gymnometriocnemus!
10-vi-2000

BE SURE TO CHECK the Chironomidae checklist; the list is updated regularly when new information becomes available.  To go there, click here CHECKLIST
 

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