Litocladius

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iLitocladius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Chironomidae
Genus: Litocladius
Andersen, Mendes & Sæther 2004

Litocladius is a genus of chironomid flies that belongs to the subfamily Orthocladiinae and is composed of a single species, Litocladius mateusi Mendes, Andersen & Sæther (2004) described from Brazil. Male, female, and pupa are described. This species is so far known only from the type locality and type material.

The types of the only known species are housed in São Paulo, Brazil and Bergen, Norway.

The etymology of the genus is from the Greek "litos", meaning plain, simple, referring to the reduced pupa and the shape of the inferior volsella; "cladius" stands as a common ending among orthoclads.

The only pupa recorded was found living among mosses on tree trunks, no data on the larvae are available so far.

[edit] Reference

  • Mendes, H.F., Andersen, T. & Sæther, O.A. (2004) A review of Antillocladius Sæther, 1981; Compterosmittia Sæther, 1981 and Litocladius new genus (Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae). Zootaxa 594, 1–82.