CONOCHIRONOMUS FREEMAN - AN AFRO-AUSTRALIAN CHIRONOMINI GENUS REVISED(DIPTERA, CHIRONOMIDAE)

The chironomid genus Conochironomus is revised, with diagnoses provide d for both sexes of adults and, for the first time, the immature stage s. The Afrotropical genotype C. acutistilus Freeman and the newly desc ribed Australian species C. australiensis (for misidentified acutistil us in Australia), C. cygnus and C. kakadu are described in all stages. C. avicula Freeman is redescribed from the male, and C. deemingi is d escribed as new from the male alone, both from the Afrotropical Region . The Australian species C. cervus is described as new, based on the p upa alone. Comments are made on the ecology and distribution. A previo usly little-recognized 'tropical' Gondwanan biogeographic explanation for Conochironomus distribution is postulated.