Description of the Alpine Micropsectra oberaarensis sp. n. with taxonomic comments on the attenuata group (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Abstract
Ahitherto unknown species in the Micropsectra attenuata group, Micropsectra oberaarensis sp. n., has recently been collected from high elevation in the Berner Alps (Switzerland).The male and pupa of the new species, and the previously unknown larva of the closely related Micropsectra seguyi Casas & Laville, are here described and diagnosed. These two species, Micropsectra attenuata Reiss and Micropsectra auvergnensis Reiss are morphologically similar as adult males, but can easily be separated in their pupal life stage. Partial COI gene sequences indicate sufficient interspecific variation to separate the morphologically two most similar species, M. oberaarensis and M. seguyi. Micropsectra davigra Gilka & Abramczuk is presented as a new junior synonymto M. pharetrophora Fittkau& Reiss and a key to males of all eight West Palaearctic species in the attenuata group is given. The diagnostic characters separating the genera Parapsectra and Krenopsectra from the attenuata group are briefly discussed.
