<i>Usambaromyia nigrala</i>gen. n., sp. n., and Usambaromyiinae, a new subfamily among the Chironomidae (Diptera)

Abstract

The male and female imagines of Usambaromyia nigrala gen. n., sp. n. are described from the West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania. The species differs from other known chironomids by having nearly completely black wings in both sexes, tibial spurs with lateral denticles making them Tanypodinae—like, dense cluster of scalpellate sensilla chaetica on anepisternum I, male gonostylus without megaseta, laterosternite fused with tergite IX forming a single annulus and female genitalia apparently with only one seminal capsule and spermathecal duct, well developed gonocoxite IX and setae on segment X. A new subfamily, the Usambaromyiinae is erected based on U. nigrala and conceived as forming the plesiomorphic sister group of the Tanypodinae, the Podonomiinae and the Aphroteniinae combined. A subfamily diagnosis is given.