Monsoonal tropical Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera : Chironomidae) reviewed: New species, life histories and significance as aquatic environmental indicators

The immature stages of the cosmopolitan chironomid midge genus Tanytarsus v an der Wulp can dominate tropical running waters. Studies in the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory, Australia have revealed a plethora of species, some of which show differential responses to disturbance, incl uding mine drainage. These taxa in their immature stages have been referred to previously by codes. Here Tanytarsus gulungul, Tanytarsus hardwicki, Ta nytarsus micksmithi, Tanytarsus dostinei, Tanytarsus rosario, Tanytarsus hu mphreyi and Tanytarsus reidi are described as new from larvae, pupae and ad ult males, Tanytarsus wendylee as new based on pupae and adult males, and T anytarsus bispinosus Freeman and Tanytarsus richardsi Glover redescribed in all stages. Five species-level taxa for which the adults are unknown are d escribed but not formally named, although the identity of one with Tanytars us manlyensis Glover and another with Tanytarsus dycei Glover is suggested. A diagnostic matrix is provided for larvae and dichotomous keys for pupae and adult males. Some distributional and environmental responses are descri bed and comments provided on species groupings, including a review of the g enus Virgatanytarsus Pinder.