The Oliveiriella (Diptera: Chironomidae) of the High Altitude Andean streams, with the description of a new species, Cricotopus (Oliveiriella) rieradevallae, Prat & Paggi sp. n.

C. RIBERA; PRAT,N.; C. VILLAMARIN; R. ACOSTA; M. RIERADEVALL; F. RIVERA; PAGGI, A. C.; B. RIOS-TOUMA; P. OSSA

NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY

ENTOMOLOGICAL SOC BRASIL

Lugar: BRASIL; Año: 2017

1519-566X

AbstractThe genus Oliveiriella (Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) was erected by Wiedenbrug & Fitkkau (1997). The adults have characteristic black spots on their wings and other characteristics similar to the genus Cricotopus. Pupal skins are very characteristic with strong short spines in the anal lobe instead of setae, while larvae are distinguishable by the long anal papillae and the intense blue colour of their body. However, Andersen et al (2013) consider Oliveiriella as a subgenera of Cricotopus. In this paper, using the sequences of the cox1 gene, we conclude that Oliveiriella should be considered a subgenus within Cricotopus, confirming its status in Andersen et al (2013). Furthermore, we describe to Cricotopus (Oliveiriella) rieradevallae Prat & Paggi sp. n., from the Saltana River (Ecuador). The adult males, females and preimaginal stages of the two species of subgenus Oliveiriella known from South America C.(O.) almeidai n. comb. from Perú, Brazil and Argentina and C.(O.) sanjavieri n. comb. from Argentina are compared with those of C. (O.) rieradevallae sp. n., from Ecuador. The differences allow the distinction of the three species.The cox 1 gene reveal that at least three different undescribed molecular species of the same subgenus are present in the high altitude tropical Andes. The morphology of the available pupae and pupal exuviae reveals the presence of several morphotypes that are candidates to be described as new species. A key used to distinguish these pupal morphotypes is provided, including the three described species. Additionally, the distribution of the subgenus is discussed.