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Issue: Vol. 4000 No. 5: 19 Aug. 2015
Type: Article
Published: 2015-08-19
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.5.5
Page range: 559–570
Abstract views: 67
PDF downloaded: 19

A new invasive weed-feeding species of Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) Kieffer from South Africa (Diptera: Chironomidae, Chironominae)

Department of Natural History, University Museum of Bergen, University of Bergen, P.O. Box 7800, N-5020 Bergen, Norway
Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica de Ciudad de la Habana, Carretera Varona 11835 e/Oriente y Lindero, La Habana 19, CP 11900, Calabazar, Boyeros, La Habana, Cuba.
Biocontrol Research Unit, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Biocontrol Research Unit, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Diptera Chironomidae Polypedilum Pentapedilum new species Lagarosiphon major South Africa Afrotropical region alien invasive weed

Abstract

Polypedilum (Pentapedilum) tuburcinatum Andersen et Bello González sp. n. is described and figured as male, female, pupa and larva based on material collected in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, imported into quarantine in Ireland and reared in the laboratory. The species feeds on the aquatic weed Lagarosiphon major (Ridl.) Moss ex Wager and is regarded as a promising candidate agent for biological control of this invasive weed.