Parapsectrocladius: a new genus of orthocladiine Chironomidae (Diptera) from Patagonia, the southern Andes

Parapsectrocladius is described in all life history stages as a new genus w ith type-species Cardiocladius acuminatus Edwards, for four species from An dean South America. The female, pupa and larva of P. acuminatus are describ ed for the first time, from Chile; all stages of P. escondida Cranston Br A non Suarez, sp. n., are described from lentic patagonian Argentina, all sta ges of Parapsectrocladius reissi sp. n, from a pond in Valdivia, Chile, and P. longistylus sp. n. from males from several locations in south Chile and Argentina and the putatively associated female and pupa from southern Chil e. The clade is Patagonian, with larvae occurring in Andean pools, ponds an d lakes, including glacial-fed ones, and also in one lowland river in Chilo e. Previous suggested relationships to Cardiocladius Kieffer or Paratrissoc ladius Zavrel are rejected Following phylogenetic analysis, with these plac ements suggested as due to adult male -based convergent character states. T he immature stages, which show resemblance to Psectrocladius Kieffer and Rh eocricotopus Thienemann & Harnisch, and the female contribute evidence that Parapsectrocladius forms the sister group to Psectrocladius, which appears monophyletic despite its subgeneric heterogeneity. Immediate next relation s to Psectrocladius + Parapsectrocladius are postulated as (Rheocricotopus (both subgenera) + Paracricotopus) then (Nanocladius + Doncricotopus) at ne xt remove.