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Glacial retreat, accompanied by shifts in riparian vegetation and glacier meltwater inputs, alters the energy supply and trophic structure of alpine stream food webs. Our goal in this study was to enhance understanding of dietary niches of macroinvertebrates inhabiting different alpine streams with contrasting glacial and non‐glacial (groundwater, precipitation, snowmelt) water inputs in conjunction with seasonal and habitat‐specific variation in basal resource availability. We measured a range of stream physico‐chemical attributes as well as carbon and nitrogen isotopes (δ13C, δ15N) of macroinvertebrates and primary food sources at seven sites across seasons within a Swiss glaciated catchment (Val Roseg) undergoing rapid glacial retreat (1–2 km between 1997 and 2014). Sampling sites corresponded to streams used in a previous (1997/1998) study within the same alpine catchment. Physico‐chemical attributes showed wide variation in environmental conditions across streams and seasons. Significant correlation among physico‐chemical proxies of glacier meltwater (phosphate‐P, total inorganic carbon, conductivity, turbidity) and macroinvertebrate δ13C, δ15N, and size‐ corrected standard ellipse area (a proxy for feeding niche width) values showed that the extent of glacial water input shapes the energy base among alpine streams. Feeding niche differences among common alpine stream insect taxa (Chironomidae, Baetidae, Heptageniidae) were not significant, indicating that these organisms probably are plastic in feeding behaviour, opportunistically relying on food resources available in a particular stream and season. Seasonal trends in macroinvertebrate δ13C largely followed patterns in periphyton δ13C values, indicating that autochthonous resources were the main consumer energy source within the stream network, as shown previously. The overall range in macroinvertebrate δ13C (−33.5 to −18.4‰) and δ15N (−6.9 to 6.7‰) values also corresponded to values measured in the previous study, suggesting that macroinvertebrates altered diets in line with changes in environmental conditions and food resources during a period of rapid glacial retreat. Our results suggest that environmental changes brought on by rapid glacial retreat have not yet caused a profound change in the trophic structure within these fluvial networks.

Makarchenko, E. A., Yavorskaya, N. M., Yakovleva, Yu. I. (2020): DESCRIPTION OF AN UNKNOWN PUPA OF THE GENUS KALUGINIA MAKARCHENKO, 1987 (DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE, DIAMESINAE) FROM THE AMUR RIVER BASIN. Far Eastern Entomologist 407: 21-24, DOI: 10.25221/fee.407.3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.25221/fee.407.3

This checklist deals with summarizing all the data on Iranian Chironomidae (Diptera). In total, 34 species from 5 subfamilies are listed as the fauna of Iran: Buchonomyiinae (single species), Chironominae (18 species from 24 genera with some unknown species), Diamesinae (unknown species within 4 genera), Orthocladiinae (8 species from 24 genera with some unknown species) and Tanypodinae (7 species from 10 genera with some unknown species). Three species, Chironomus anthracinus Zetterstedt, 1860, Cladotanytarsus (Cladotanytarsus) mancus (Walker, 1856) and Tanypus punctipennis Meigen, 1818 are new records for the fauna of Iran.

Makarchenko, E.A., Rumyantseva, A.Yu., Yavorskaya, N.M. (2020): New data on taxonomy and distribution of Kaluginia lebetiformis Makarchenko, 1987 (Diptera: Chironomidae, Diamesinae) from East Asia. Far Eastern Entomologist 399: 19-28, DOI: 10.25221/fee.399.3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.25221/fee.399.3

Larval stages of the Chironomidae (Diptera) can be found in almost any aquatic habitat, includ- ing artificial lakes. They form an important fraction of the macrozoobenthos of most freshwater ecosystems. The Mavrovo reservoir as an artificial lake in the Republic of Macedonia, to date, has never been an object of hydrobiological research of this type. For that reason, the purpose of this study was to conduct research on the composition and structure of the chironomid larvae fauna that inhabits the Mavrovo reservoir. The quantitative samples for this research were collected during one year (2017/18), seasonally from five different localities (T1–T5) – T1-Ulazna, T2-Hotel Radika, T3-Middle of the reservoir, T4-Bunec, and T5-Old church (village Mavrovo). According to the results, Chironomidae was represented with five subfamilies, two tribes, and 25 taxa. The subfamilies are Chironominae with the two tribes Chironomini and Tanytarsini, Tanypodinae, Orthocladiinae, Diamesinae, and Prodiamesinae. The dominant taxon is Tanytarsus sp., and besides it, the following taxa: Procladius sp., Chironomus plumosus, Harnischia sp., Polypedilum nubeculosum, and Orthocladius saxicola are characterized by greater community participation. The highest density of chironomid larvae fauna was recorded during the summer, a total of 1013.69 ind/m2, compared to the lowest registered in the spring season which is only 9.78 ind/m2.

Introduction: Chironomidae (Diptera) is the most widespread and abundant aquatic insect family in freshwater ecosystems. Chironomids are considered good indicators of water quality but are seldom identified at the genus level in broad spatial scale studies. Objective: To identify environmental conditions associated with chironomids in an altitudinal gradient. Methods: We compared ecoregions, river types, and seasons, for chironomids in neotropical streams and rivers (18 river sites; 2014-2018; Yungas rainforest and Western Chaco dry forest, Argentina). We used non-metric multidimensional scaling, dissimilarity, envfit analysis and rank-abundance curves. Results: Chironomic “assemblages” matched both ecoregions and river types. However, ecoregions presented a better fit with species composition. The stenothermal taxa of Orthocladiinae were dominant at high elevations and the eurythermal Chironominae in lowland rivers. Altitude, water temperature and conductivity were important. Seasonal differences were smaller than ecoregional differences. Conclusions: Ecoregions, altitude, water temperature and conductivity correlated with chironomid communities. Orthocladiinae were dominant at high elevations and Chironominae in lowland rivers. Introducción: Chironomidae (Diptera) es la familia de insectos acuáticos más extendida y abundante en los ecosistemas dulceacuícolas. Los quironómidos se consideran buenos indicadores de la calidad del agua, pero rara vez se identifican a nivel de género en estudios de amplia escala espacial. Objetivo: Identificar las condiciones ambientales asociadas a los quironómidos en un gradiente altitudinal. Métodos: Comparamos ecorregiones, tipos de ríos y estaciones para quironómidos en arroyos y ríos neotropicales (18 sitios en ríos; 2014-2018; en un bosque tropical de Yungas y un bosque seco del Chaco Occidental, Argentina). Utilizamos escalamiento no métrico multidimensional, disimilitud, análisis de envfit y curvas de rango-abundancia. Resultados: Los “ensamblajes” de quironómidos coincidieron tanto con las ecorregiones como con los tipos de ríos. Sin embargo, las ecorregiones presentaron un mejor ajuste con la composición de especies. Los taxones estenotérmicos de Orthocladiinae fueron dominantes en las elevaciones altas y los euritermales de Chironominae en los ríos de las tierras bajas. La altitud, la temperatura del agua y la conductividad fueron importantes. Las diferencias estacionales fueron menores que las diferencias ecorregionales. Conclusiones: las ecorregiones, la altitud, la temperatura del agua y la conductividad se correlacionaron con las comunidades de quironómidos. Orthocladiinae fue dominante en los sitios altos y Chironominae en los ríos de tierras bajas

Chironomids of the genus Pagastia Oliver (Diamesinae, Diamesini) from the mountains of Central Asia are revised using both morphological characters and molecular data. Illustrated descriptions of the adult male Pagastia (P.) caelestomontana sp. nov. from Kirgizstan and Tajikistan, P. (P.) hanseni sp. nov. from Tajikistan, and record of a finding apparently a new species P. (P.) aff. lanceolata (Tokunaga) from Tajikistan as well as an updated a key to the determination of the adult males of all known species of Pagastia are provided. A phylogenetic framework is reconstructed based on two mitochondrial genes cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of 34 samples belonging to 7 species of the genus Pagastia and cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) available for most samples. Phylogenetic trees of some known species of the genus Pagastia were reconstructed using the combined dataset and Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods. The interspecific K2P distances between seven Pagastia species including P. (P.) caelestomontana sp. nov., P. (P.) hanseni sp. nov. and undescribed P. (P.) aff. lanceolata (Tokunaga) are 6.3–13.2 which corresponding to species level.

Chironomids of the genus Shilovia Makarchenko (Diamesinae, Boreoheptagyiini) from the mountains of Central Asia are revised using both morphological characters and molecular data. Illustrated descriptions of the adult male Shilovia xinhuawangi sp. nov. from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, S. yakovlevi sp. nov. from East Kazakhstan and redescription of S. rara Makarchenko from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are provided. The result of morphological study is congruent with DNA barcoding analyses using COI sequences. The average K2P interspecific nucleotide distances within S. xinhuawangi sp. nov. and S. yakovlevi sp. nov. are 0.03% and 0.3% respectively. The nucleotide distances between the two new species and S. rara can be considered interspecific. Phylogenetic analysis using Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inferences (BI) support the placement of S. xinhuawangi sp. nov. and S. yakovlevi sp. nov. within the monophyletic genus Shilovia.

This study aimed to examine spatiotemporal variations in chironomid assemblages and to detect how environmental variables affect their structure. We sampled seven streams at low and high altitudes in Northwest Argentina under contrasting climate conditions (Puna and Chaco Serrano) during high- and low-water periods. The environmental variables that affected Chironomidae community structure were water temperature, conductivity, hardness, current velocity and type of substrate. Fine substrates, gravel and low water temperature favoured cold stenothermal fauna, composed of Orthocladiinae, Diamesinae and Podonominae specimens in the high-altitude streams, whereas warm waters with low conductivity and higher velocity favoured increased species diversity in lowland streams, where there was greater abundance of Chironominae (which corresponds to warm eurythermal fauna). The studied environments belong to a transition zone that should be preserved where cold stenothermic and warm eurythermal Chironomidae overlap.

Chironomids of the Diamesinae subfamily from the Russian Arctic were studied using both morphological characters and molecular data. Adult males of Diamesa urvantsevi sp. nov., D. amplexivirilia Hansen, Arctodiamesa appendiculata (Lundström) from Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago and D. arctica (Boheman), Pseudokiefferiella sp. from Vaigach Island were described, redescribed, annotated and figured. A reference 658 bp barcode sequence from a fragment of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) was used as a tool for species delimitation. For D. arctica (Boheman) and Pseudokiefferiella sp. close DNA barcodes from Norway were performed, which allowed to relate these specimens to the described species. Comparisons with corresponding regions of COI between each described species and close related congeneric species produced K2P genetic distances of 0.11–0.16, values well associated with interspecific variation. Phylogenetic relationships for genera Arctodiamesa Makarchenko and Pseudokiefferiella Zavřel were reconstructed for the first time.

Chironomids of the tribe Boreoheptagyiini from the mountains of Iran, China and East Kazakhstan are revised using both morphological characters and partial DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Using adult males, Palatovia lorestanica gen. nov. sp. nov., as well as Boreoheptagyia iranica sp. nov. both from Iran (Lorestan Province, Zagros Mountains), B. joeli sp. nov. from China (Tien Shan Mountains), and B. sarymsactyensis sp. nov. from Eastern Kazakhstan (Kazakh Mountain Altai), are described and figured. A brief redescription of the rare species B. brevitarsis (Tokunaga) from Iran (Mazandaran Province), previously known only from Japan, is also given. The DNA barcoding analysis shows well-supported genetic divergence between all studied taxa (four species of the genus Boreoheptagyia and one of Palatovia). Combining DNA barcodes obtained in this study with available sequences in GenBank, the phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Boreoheptagyiini are reconstructed. In the resulting Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) tree the polyphyly of the genus Boreoheptagyia is recognized. B. iranica is placed as a sister species to P. lorestanica, despite the lack of confirmation of their morphological similarity.

The family of non-biting midges (Diptera, Chironomidae) represent one of the most common and abundant group in freshwaters, inhabiting a wide variety of habitats and ecological niches. Although there is a long tradition of limnological research in Croatia, to date no extensive species list has been made for this insect family. Thus, we summarized the results of our research and reviewed published data on chironomid fauna of Croatia in various freshwater habitat types, including extreme ones, such as caves, peatbogs or marine littoral. A total of 239 species were recorded representing five subfamilies: Chironominae (125 species) Orthocladiinae (83 species), Tanypodinae (23 species), Diamesinae (6 species) and Prodiamesinae (2 species). The most frequent species were Cricotopus bicinctus, Dicrotendipes nervosus, Synorthocladius semivirens, each found in more than 20% of the studied localities. Ablabesmyia monilis and Procladius choreus represented the most frequent Tanypodinae species, recorded in more than 12% and 17% of the sites, respectively. The research of chironomid ecology, diversity and distribution continues, which will provide new data and information, but this first comprehensive checklist provides a good starting point for those studying Chironomidae or other freshwater Diptera, in Croatia and Europe.

An illustrated description of the adult male of Pagastia (P.) donoliveri sp. nov. from the Beartooth Mountains, Wyoming, of North America is provided. An updated key to the determination of all known Holarctic species of Pagastia Oliver for males is also provided.

High altitude glacier-fed streams are harsh environments inhabiting specialized invertebrate communities. Most research on biotic aspects in glacier-fed streams have focused on the simple relationship between presence/absence of species and prevailing environmental conditions, whereas functional strategies and potentials of glacial stream specialists have been hardly investigated so far. Using new and recent datasets from our investigations in the European Alps, we now demonstrate distinct functional properties of invertebrates that typically dominate glacier-fed streams and show significant relationships with declining glacier cover in alpine stream catchments. In particular, we present and argue about cause-effect relationships between glacier cover in the catchment and temperature, community structure, diversity, feeding strategies, early life development, body mass, and growth of invertebrates. By concentrating on key taxa in glacial and non-glacial alpine streams, the relevance of distinct adaptations in these functional components becomes evident. This clearly demonstrates that further studies of functional characteristics are essential for the understanding of peculiar diversity patterns, successful traits and their plasticity, evolutionary triggered species adaptions, and flexibilities.

Makarchenko, E.A., Semenchenko, A.A., Kang, H., Bae, Y.J. (2018): Morphological redescription and DNA barcoding of Kaluginia lebetiformis Makarchenko, 1987 (Diptera: Chironomidae, Diamesinae) from South Korea. Far Eastern Entomologist 367: 26-32, DOI: 10.25221/fee.367.4, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.25221/fee.367.4

Macroinvertebrate community taxonomic and trait structure showed consistent differences between riffles and pools across 12 headwater streams in the Sierra Nevada (California) even as flows varied from wet to dry years and between seasons. Densities of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Elmidae, Orthocladiinae and Diamesinae midges, and mites were greater in riffles, whereas Tanypodinae, Chironominae, Sialis, and Pisidium were more abundant in pools. Pools had higher densities but estimated biomass was greater in riffles. Collector-gatherer and micropredator abundances were greater in pools whereas grazers, collector-filterers, and macropredators were more abundant in riffles. Stonefly shredders were most abundant in riffles but some caddis shredders were more abundant in pools. Trait state patterns were related to food resource and physical habitat differences between riffles and pools. Of the distinct pool–riffle differences we found among taxa, only about half conformed to expectations from the literature. Pool and riffle assemblages were most dissimilar at intermediate discharge and converged at low and high flows when one or the other habitat dominated. Bioassessment sampling will need to account for these flow-related differences. Benthic invertebrate communities in these mountain streams clearly differ between pools and riffles, but the relative extent of habitats and biological similarity shift with flow regime.

Identification keys are provided for the final (4th) instar larvae of genera of Chironomidae (Diptera), from aquatic habitats in Australia and New Zealand. Morphological features of taxonomic utility are discussed and illustrated by line drawings. Summaries of described species for each genus and their distribution is provided, with reference to means of further identification where available. In the subfamily Podonominae, 5 genera are keyed of which 3 are recorded from New Zealand; the 4 genera of Aphroteniinae are from Australia (absent from New Zealand); in Diamesinae 1 genus is Australian, 2 are from New Zealand; in the Tanypodinae 21 genera are found in Australia and 4 are from New Zealand; in Orthocladiinae 31 genera are reported from Australia, 14 from New Zealand; and in Chironominae 43 genera are keyed from Australia, 9 from New Zealand. Larvae of Axarus Roback, Chernovskiia Sæther and Omisus Townes (Chironomini) are recognised in Australia for the first time. The undescribed larva of Paucispinigera Freeman, endemic to New Zealand, is keyed and several other New Zealand taxa are included based on unpublished records. Genera reported from Australia and New Zealand as adults, but unknown as larvae, are listed.

Illustrated description of the adult male of Pagastia (P.) subletteorum sp. nov., redescription of the pupa and adult male of P. (P.) orthogonia Oliver and P. (P.) partica (Roback), with redescription of the adult male of P. (Hesperodiamesa) sequax (Garrett) from North America are provided. An emended generic diagnosis and a key to determination of adult males of all known species of Pagastia Oliver are also provided.

Morphological description for adult male of a new species Diamesa qiangi sp. nov. and redescription for adult males of the little-known species Linevitshia prima Makarchenko and Sasayusurika nigatana (Tokunaga) of subfamily Diamesinae from the Oriental Region of China are given.

Author(s): Rossaro, Bruno; Pirola, Niccolo; Marziali, Laura; Magoga, Giulia; Boggero, Angela; Montagna, Matteo | Abstract: In a first list of chironomid species from Italy from 1988, 359 species were recognized. The subfamilies represented were Tanypodinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae. Most of the species were cited as widely distributed in the Palearctic region with few Mediterranean (6), Afrotropical (19) or Panpaleotropical (3) species. The list also included five species previously considered Nearctic. An updated list was thereafter prepared and the number of species raised to 391. Species new to science were added in the following years further raising the number of known species. The list of species known to occur in Italy is now updated to 580, and supported by voucher specimens. Most species have a Palearctic distribution, but many species are distributed in other biogeographical regions; 366 species are in common with the East Palaearctic region, 281 with the Near East, 248 with North Africa, 213 with the Nearctic, 104 with the Oriental, 23 species with the Neotropical, 23 with the Afrotropical, 16 with the Australian region, and 46 species at present are known to occur only in Italy. On the basis of new findings in Italy and in nearby areas it is stated that the knowledge of chironomid fauna is still incomplete.

Background The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been extensively used for phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis in Diptera, but the study of mitogenome is still scarce in the family Chironomidae. Methods Here, the first complete mitochondrial genomes of four Chironomid species representing Diamesinae, Orthocladiinae, Prodiamesinae and Tanypodinae are presented. Coupled with published mitogenomes of two, a comparative mitochondrial genomic analysis between six subfamilies of Chironomidae was carried out. Results Mitogenomes of Chironomidae are conserved in structure, each contains 37 typical genes and a control region, and all genes arrange the same gene order as the ancestral insect mitogenome. Nucleotide composition is highly biased, the control region displayed the highest A + T content. All protein coding genes are under purifying selection, and the ATP8 evolves at the fastest rate. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis covering six subfamilies within Chironomidae was conducted. The monophyly of Chironomidae is strongly supported. However, the topology of six subfamilies based on mitogenomes in this study is inconsistent with previous morphological and molecular studies. This may be due to the high mutation rate of the mitochondrial genetic markers within Chironomidae. Our results indicate that mitogenomes showed poor signals in phylogenetic reconstructions at the subfamily level of Chironomidae.

Six chironomid species: Paraboreochlus minutissimus (Strobl, 1894), Trissopelopia longimanus (Staeger 1839), Boreoheptagyia monticola (Serra-Tosio, 1964), Cricotopus (s.str.) similis Goetghebuer 1921, Heleniella serratosioi Ringe, 1976, Krenosmittia camptophleps (Edwards, 1929), were recorded in Czech Republic for the first time. The pupal exuviae were collected in July 2009 from Otava River in the vicinity of Rejštejn village in the central part of the Bohemian Forest. The notes on known distribution and ecology of the species are presented.

Chironomid larvae assemblages were investigated at seven sampling stations in relation to stream habitat type in the Challhuaco-Ñireco river system located in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, in the North-Western part of Rio Negro Province, Argentina. A total of 2229 individuals were sampled and 43 Chironomidae taxa were recorded with Orthocladiinae (29) being the best represented subfamily, followed by Diamesinae (5), Tanypodinae (3), Podonominae (3) and Chironominae (3). Stictocladius spF, Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) sp6, Cricotopus sp2, Cricotopus sp3 and Parapsectrocladius sp2 were the most abundant taxa. Sites near the source of the river system were dominated by Podonomus sp, Limnophyes sp, Parapsectrocladius sp and Stictocladius spF; whereas sites close to the river mouth were dominated by Diamesinae sp5 and Cricotopus sp. Rank/abundance plots show that all the analyzed sites displayed dominance of some species. Stictocladius spF, Cricotopus sp2, Cricotopus sp3, Cricotopus (Paratrichocladius) sp6, Parapsectrocladius sp and Limnophyes sp resulted as dominant species, or being part of a group of dominant species, at least in one sample. Eleven taxa were associated with habitats related with riffle areas and stable substrates with filamentous algae. Species environment relationships were examined using Ordination Analysis. Elevation was the most significant environmental variable that explained 22% of the total variability of the chironomid assemblages, showing stronger relationships among sites within an altitudinal gradient than among habitat type. Abundance of chironomids increased from headwaters to the outflow in Nahuel Huapi Lake responding to an altitude gradient as well as some environmental factors such as coarse matter and nutrient concentrations. Fil: Mauad, Melina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentina Fil: Siri, Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentina Fil: Donato, Mariano Humberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Limnología "Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Instituto de Limnología; Argentina

The threats posed by climate change make it important to expand knowledge concerning cold and heat tolerance in stenothermal species from habitats potentially threatened by temperature changes. Thermal limits and basal metabolism variations were investigated in Pseudodiamesa branickii (Diptera: Chironomidae) under thermal stress between -20 and 37 °C. Supercooling point (SCP), lower (LLTs) and upper lethal temperatures (ULTs), and oxygen consumption rate were measured in overwintering young (1st and 2nd instar) and mature (3rd and 4th instar) larvae from an Alpine glacier-fed stream. Both young and mature larvae were freezing tolerant (SCPs = -7.1 °C and -6.4 °C, respectively; LLT100 -20 °C) and thermotolerant (ULT50 = 31.7 ± 0.4, 32.5 ± 0.3, respectively). However, ontogenetic differences in acute tolerance were observed. The LLT50 calculated for the young larvae (= -7.4 °C) was almost equal to their SCP (= -7.1 °C) and the overlapping of the proportion of mortality curve with the CPIF curve highlighted that the young larvae are borderline between freezing tolerance and freezing avoidance. Furthermore, a lower ULT100 in the young larvae (of ca. 1 °C), suggests that they are less thermotolerant than mature larvae. Finally, young larvae exhibit a higher oxygen consumption rate (mgO2 /gAFDM/h) at any temperature tested and are overall less resistant to oxygen depletion compared to mature larvae at ≥10 °C. These findings suggest that mature larvae enter into a dormant state by lowering their basal metabolism until environmental conditions improve in order to save energy for life cycle completion during stressful conditions.

Larvae and pupae of the Pseudodiamesa branickii species-group (Makarchenko & Makarchenko, 1999) (Diptera: Chironomidae) were found in 2 high-altitude lakes (El Sol and La Luna, 4,200 m asl), in the crater of the Nevado de Toluca volcano, in central Mexico. This is the first record of the genus in Mexico, and its southernmost report from a location that represents a transitional zone between the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. New information on the ecology and biogeographical distribution of the species-group is given. Se identificaron ejemplares de larvas y pupas del grupo Pseudodiamesa branickii (Makarchenko y Makarchenko, 1999) (Diptera: Chironomidae) en 2 lagos de altura (El Sol y La Luna, 4,200 m snm), ubicados dentro del cráter del volcán Nevado de Toluca, en el centro de México. Éste es el primer reporte para México y la localización más austral del género, en una zona transicional entre las regiones Neártica y Neotropical. Se presenta nueva información sobre la ecología y la distribución biogeográfica de este grupo. Fil: Moreno, Joanna. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México Fil: Massaferro, Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina Fil: Caballero, Margarita. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México Fil: Oseguera, Luis. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México

An illustrated morphological description of two new species of the genus Diamesa Meigen, 1835 are provided from Tien Shan and Pamir mountains: D. akhrorovi sp. nov., as male adult; D. alibaevae sp. nov., as male adult and pupa. DNA barcoding results of the two new described species with comparative database on some related Diamesa species are also given. The two new described species key both near D. planistyla Reiss, 1968, which was known from Nepal and redescribed here from Tian Shan. The diversity of Diamesa genus using three mitochondrial (COI, COII, 16S rRNA), two nuclear (18S rRNA, EF-1a) markers and estimating phylogenetic relationships is also highlighted. Six of the studied Diamesa species including D. akhrorovi sp. nov. and D. alibaevae sp. nov. represent a well-supported monophyletic clades with high Bayesian posterior probability, while D. cinerella Meigen and D. hamaticornis Kieffer have a lower interspecific sequence divergence.

Diversity and distribution of chironomid fauna (Diptera: Chironomidae) in 36 springs in the Italian Prealps (Veneto and Trentino NE-Italy, 46°N, 10-11°E) was studied in relation to altitude, spring type and grade of disturbance. The springs were located between 62 and 1710 m asl of altitude, in three calcareous mountain areas (Mt. Baldo, Mts. Lessini and Mt. Pasubio). They differed in conservation status (natural, moderately and highly disturbed) and belonged to five hydromorphological types (rheocrene, limnocrene, rheohelocrene, rheolimnocrene, rheohygropetric). Each spring was surveyed once, between early summer and autumn, within 50 m of the spring’s source (eucrenal). A total of 4198 chironomid larvae and pupae were sorted from 111 macroinvertebrate samples collected, belonging to five subfamilies (Tanypodinae, Diamesinae, Prodiamesinae, Orthocladiinae and Chironominae), 41 genera and 60 species/groups of species, and three juveniles taxa. As expected, Orthocladiinae accounted for a large part of specimens (88%) and species (74%), with Tvetenia calvescens/bavarica as the most frequent and abundant taxon, shared by pristine and disturbed springs and by all spring types. Most taxa were found in few sites, and frequencies declined gradually for most wider distributed species. A high number (74%) of rare (= present in less than 10% of sites) taxa were found and from one to 23 taxa were identified per spring. Maximum richness occurred in moderately disturbed (Shannon-H = 1.29±0.60) springs, located at medium-high altitude (385-1266 m asl), according to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Even the evenness (Equitability-J) was higher as average in these springs. A Cluster Analysis run on Bray-Curtis similarity index highlighted a high similarity i) between the chironomid assemblages of moderately disturbed and natural springs (44 species in each spring group, with 29 species in common), and ii) between rheocrene and rheohelocrene types, thus the springs with the highest microhabitat heterogeneity. High individuality of springs was revealed, and new information about non-biting midges autecology provided. The utility of chironomids as bioindicators of water quality and ecological state of springs was confirmed, with some species e associated with high disturbance level (e.g., Polypedilum nubeculosum gr. to water intake works) and others with pristine conditions (e.g., Pseudodiamesa branickii).

Heterotrissocladius marcidus (Walker, 1856) (Diptera: Chironomidae) inhabits aquatic habitats across the Holarctic and Oriental regions, including remote alpine glacial lakes. It is thus a promising species for studies of population structure and genetic diversity in these highly vulnerable habitats. Here, 21 polymorphic microsatellites for H. marcidus are described, obtained using 454 GS-FLX pyrosequencing. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 9 and no significant linkage disequilibrium was observed. To test applicability, 40 individuals were used from two lakes in the Tatra Mts (Western Carpathians). Observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0 to 0.9 and 0.102 to 0.888, respectively. In both populations, three loci deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction, probably due to presence of null alleles or undetected biological processes. Application of microsatellites was tested on six alpine lake populations. Bayesian cluster analysis assigned individuals to lakes of their origin and revealed limited gene-flow between them. Five loci were successfully cross-amplified in the related midge Macropelopia sp. (Tanypodinae) and two in Pseudodiamesa branickii (Nowicki, 1873) (Diamesinae). The microsatellites described herein proved to be useful for genetic studies of alpine populations, and can provide important data for management and conservation of these threatened habitats.