Moubayed J.1, Lods-Crozet B.2 2022. On the genus Bryophaenocladius Thienemann, 1934. I. Taxonomic notes with description of new species (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) // Euroasian Entomological Journal. Vol.21. No.4: 212–224 [in English].
1 Freshwater & Marine biology, 10 Rue des Fenouils, Montpellier F-34070 France. E-mail: chirojmb@free.fr
2 Musye cantonal de Zoologie, Place de la Riponne 6, Lausanne CH-1014 Switzerland. E-mail: brigitte.lods@vd.ch
doi 10.15298/euroasentj.21.4.05
ABSTRACT. Taxonomic notes on the genus Bryophaenocladius Thienemann, 1934 are given based on a material recently collected along a large latitudinal gradient in Europe (Switzerland, continental France, Corsica, Italy, Spain) and North-Africa (Algeria, Morocco). Four new species, Bryophaenocladius bedumonti Moubayed, sp.n., B. helveticus Moubayed et Lods-Crozet, sp.n., B. tyrrhenius Moubayed, sp.n. and B. vernensis Moubayed, sp.n., are diagnosed and described. B. bedumonti Moubayed, sp.n. is described as male adult and pupal exuviae while the three remaining species are described only as male adult. A combination of some unusual distinctive characters found in the male adult (shape of the anal point, inferior volsella and gonostylus), both B. bedumonti Moubayed, sp.n. and B. helveticus Moubayed et Lods-Crozet, sp.n. are considered as local biogeographical element, while B. tyrrhenius Moubayed, sp.n. and B. vernensis Moubayed, sp.n. show some morphological similarity with B. furcatus (Kieffer, 1916), B. muscicola (Kieffer, 1906), B. nidorum (Edwards, 1929), B. scanicus Brundin, 1947 and B. tuberculatus (Edwards, 1929). Currently, the genus comprises about 80 known species from the Palaearctic Region, of which 33 are reported from Europe. Consequently the description of the four new species increases the total number in the genus to 37 valid species from this region. Taxonomic remarks related to the generic diagnosis are also provided, which complement some previous data from the literature. Discussion, differential diagnosis and comments on the ecology and geographical distribution of the four new species are given.
KEY WORDS: Diptera, Chironomidae, Bryophaenocladius, new species, conservation.