A Survey of Neotropical Chironomidae (Diptera) on San Salvador Island, Bahamas

Authors

  • Alyssa Anderson Northern State University, Dept. Biol. Chem. Physics & Math., Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA
  • Petra Kranzfelder University of Minnesota, Dept. Entomol., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA
  • Alexander Egan University of Minnesota, Dept. Entomol., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA
  • Leonard C. Ferrington, Jr University of Minnesota, Dept. Entomol., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA

Keywords:

aquatic insects, taxonomy, biogeography, diversity, metapopulation, exuviae

Abstract

Chironomidae (Diptera) are among the most diverse and widespread aquatic insects, with approximately 5,500 species described. However, prior to the present work, only 4 species of Chironomidae were reported from the Bahamas. The goal of our study was to provide basic species data on the Chironomidae of San Salvador Island. In March of 2012, a variety of aquatic habitats representing fresh to saline waters were sampled for chironomid larvae and pupal exuviae. Twelve species were found: Chironomus Meigen (3 morphospecies), Dicrotendipes sp. A sensu Epler, Polypedilum (Tripodura) scalaenum group (1 morphospecies), Goeldichironomus fluctuans Reiss, Tanytarsus mendax Kieffer, Tanytarsus cf. confusus Malloch, Ablabesmyia (Sartaia) metica Roback, Labrundinia maculata Roback, Paramerina anomala Beck & Beck, and Djalmabatista pulchra (Johannsen). All of these are new records for the Bahamas, with Tanytarsus mendax and Paramerina anomala new for the Neotropical region.

 

Chironomidae (Diptera) se encuentran entre los más diversos y generalizados insectos acuáticos, con aproximadamente 5500 especies descritas. Sin embargo, antes del presente trabajo, sólo se reportaron 4 especies de Chironomidae de las Bahamas. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue proveer datos básicos sobre las especies de Chironomidae de la isla de San Salvador. En marzo del 2012, se tomaron muestras de las larvas y las exuvias de la pupa de los quironómidos en una gran variedad de hábitats acuáticos que representan aguas frescas y aguas salinas. Se encontraron doce especies: Chironomus Meigen (3 morfoespecies), Dicrotendipes sp. A sensu Epler, Polypedilum (Tripodura) grupo scalaenum (1 morfoespecies), Goeldichironomus fluctuans Reiss, Tanytarsus mendax Kieffer, Tanytarsus cf. confusus Malloch, Ablabesmyia (Sartaia) metica Roback, Labrundinia maculata Roback, Paramerina anomala Beck & Beck y Djalmabatista pulchra (Johannsen). Todos estos son nuevos registros para las Bahamas, con Tanytarsus mendax y Paramerina anomala nuevos registros para la región Neotropical.

 

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Published

2014-04-08

Issue

Vol. 97, No. 1 (March 2014)

Section

Scientific Notes

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