Descriptions of four Nearctic Procladius Skuse pupal exuviae

Abstract

Associated Procladius Skuse (Holotanypus Roback) material from the Sublette collection was found to have specimens with undescribed immature stages. Pupal exuviae of two species are described for the first time: P. barbatulus Sublette and P. clavus Roback. Adult and larval features are included for P. barbatulus. In addition, specimens of Nearctic P. denticulatus Sublette are compared to Palearctic P. signatus (Zetterstedt) to determine if exuviae can separate these species or suggest that P. signatus is a senior synonym. Finally, associated pupal and larval traits of P. prolongatus Roback are compared to the original description, corroborating the theory that features are unique enough to warrant subgeneric status.

Describing the undiscovered

“…This edition of CHIRONOMUS highlights what our relatively small community is doing to address some of these previously unknown questions. From descriptions of new species (Mouybayed-Breil and Ashe, 2018), new records of genera (Hamerlik and da Silva 2018), previously unknown life stages (Egan and Langton 2018) and species range updates (Namayandeh and Beresford 2018) to notes on the unique oviposition behavior of a midge that parasitizes unionid mussels, there are clearly new and important findings to share. We hope you enjoy learning of these discoveries, and continue to relay the importance of your own findings, not only with us and other colleagues in the scientific community, but with the broader community as well.…”