Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804 )

Brodin, Yngve, 2025, Procladius (Diptera, Chironomidae) of Europe and a global view, Zootaxa 5591 (1), pp. 1-127 : 45-48

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804)

Tanypus choreus Meigen, 1804 — Meigen (1804), adult male, adult female, description.

Tanypus choreus Meigen, 1804 — Meigen (1818), adult male, adult female, description.

Chironomus incomptus Walker, 1856 — Walker (1856), England, adult male, description.

Procladius albinervis Kieffer, 1918 — Goetghebuer (1922), Belgium, adult male, description, illustration.

Trichotanypus sagittalis ( Kieffer, 1909) — Goetghebuer (1927), France, adult male, key, description.

Procladius culiciformis ( Linnaeus, 1767) — Edwards (1929), England, adult male, description.

Procladius sagittalis ( Kieffer, 1909) — Edwards (1929), England, adult male, description.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Goetghebuer & Lenz (1936a), Goetghebuer & Lenz (1936b), adult male, key, description, illustrations.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Brundin (1949), Sweden, adult male, key.

Procladius sagittalis ( Kieffer, 1909) — Coe (1950), England, adult male, key, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Morrissey (1950), United States, adult male, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Roback (1971), Germany, adult male, key, illustration.

Procladius freemani Sublette, 1964 — Roback (1971), United States, adult male in part, description, illustrations.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Pankratova (1977), Russia, pupa, larva, key, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Pinder (1978), England, adult male, key, illustration.

Procladius freemani Sublette, 1964 var. 3— Roback (1980), United States, adult male in part, description, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Bíró (1981), Hungary, larva, key, illustration.

Procladius freemani Sublette, 1964 — Oliver (1981), United States, adult male, illustration.

Procladius brevipetiolatus ( Goetghebuer, 1935) — Cranston & Judd (1989), Saudi Arabia, adult male, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Jiménez & Herrera (1988), Spain, adult male, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Langton (1991), England, pupa, key, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Sergeeva (1995), Russia, adult male, adult female, pupa, larva, descriptions, illustrations.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Kobayashi (1998), Japan, adult male in part, description, photos.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Langton & Visser (2003), England, pupa, key, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Langton & Pinder (2007), England, adult male, key, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Langton et al. (2013), England, pupa, key, illustration.

Procladius sagittalis ( Kieffer, 1909) — Mohammadi et al. (2021), Iran, adult male, illustration.

Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Ratnasingham et al. (2024), Sweden, Israel and Lebanon, adult males, adult females, photos.

Procladius sp. — Ratnasingham et al. (2024), Albania, Austria, Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan, adult males, adult females, larvae, photos.

? Tanypus choreus Meigen, 1804 — Zetterstedt (1850) Sweden, adult male, description.

? Trichotanypus horticola Kieffer, 1911 — Kieffer (1911), adult female, description.

? Trichotanypus rivulorum Kieffer, 1913 — Kieffer (1913), Germany, adult male, description.

? Trichotanypus rivulorum ( Kieffer, 1913) — Kieffer (1918a), Lithuania, adult male, key, description.

? Trichotanypus dimidiatus Kieffer, 1924 — Kieffer (1924), Germany, adult male, key, description.

? Trichotanypus rivulorum ( Kieffer, 1913) — Kieffer (1924), Germany, adult male, key, description.

? Procladius dimidiatus ( Kieffer, 1924) — Goetghebuer & Lenz (1936a), Germany, adult male, key, description.

? Procladius rivulorum ( Kieffer, 1913) — Goetghebuer & Lenz (1936a), Germany, adult male, key, description.

? Procladius freemani Sublette, 1964 — Sublette (1964), United States, adult male in part, description, illustrations.

? Procladius freemani Sublette, 1964 — Roback (1980), United States, pupa in part, larva in part, key, description, photos, illustrations.

? Procladius choreus ( Meigen, 1804) — Vallenduuk & Moller Pillot (2007), Netherlands, larva, description.

? Procladius sp. — Ratnasingham et al. (2024), China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand, adult males, adult females, photos.

Material examined (n = 47). BELGIUM, 1 adult male (as Procladius sp. , RBNS), Mol, Postel , 51.29°N 5.19°E, 40 m a.s.l., +10 °C m.a.t., vii.1925, leg. G. Severin. — CYPRUS, 2 adult males (as Procladius sp. , LUIZ), Polis town , 35.03°N 32.42°E, 20 m a.s.l., +19 °C m.a.t., 23.vii.2007, leg. J. Kazimierczak. — CZECHIA, 1 adult male ( NHRS), Lake Blatec, Divcice , 49.11°N 14.31°E, 397 m a.s.l., +7 °C m.a.t., 19.vi.1991, leg. Y. Brodin and M. Gransberg. — EGYPT, 2 adult males (as Procladius sp. , CBGG), Alexandria, Smouha, Antoniades Gardens, Lake Farm , 31.20°N 29.95°E, ‒ 4 m a.s.l., +21 °C m.a.t., 22‒29.v.2013, leg. O. El-Ansary [ Barcode GMESA103-14 and GMEEO10040- 21 ] .— ENGLAND, 1 adult male (as P. sagittalis ), Lewes , 50.87°N 0.01°E, 2 m a.s.l., +10 °C m.a.t., 1948 ; 4 adult males ( UUZM), South Chingford, Banbury Reservoir , 51.60°N 0.03°W, 10 m a.s.l., +11 °C m.a.t., 18.vii.1982, leg. T. Samman ; 2 adult males ( UUZM), South Hanningfield, Hanningfield Reservoir , 51.65°N 0.51°E, 53 m a.s.l., +11 °C m.a.t., 23.vii.1982, leg. T. Samman and Y. Brodin ; 2 adult males ( WIFE), London, Ashford Common , 51.42°N 0.44°W, 12 m a.s.l., +11 °C m.a.t, 3.ix.1989, leg. R.S. Wotton .— FRANCE, 1 adult male ( NHRS), La Guiel stream, 49°N 0°E, circa 1 m a.s.l., +11 °C m.a.t., 6.vi.2007, leg. J. Moubayed-Breil [ Barcoded ] .— GERMANY, 1 adult male (as P. sagittalis, ZSMG ), Berlin, pond at Tegel , 52.57°N 13.28°E, 38 m a.s.l., +8 °C m.a.t., 1932 ; 2 adult males ( ZMLU), Lake Grosser Plönen See, Plön , 54.14°N 10.44°E, 18 m a.s.l., +9 °C m.a.t., 1947, leg. A. Thienemann. — IRAN, 1 adult male (as P. sagittalis, UKSI ), Qeshlagh reservoir, River Qeshlagh , 35.43°N 47.00°E, 1 394 m a.s.l., +12 °C m.a.t., 16.vii.2018, leg. H. Mohammadi and E. Ghaderi. — ITALY, 1 adult male ( NHRS), Lake Lago di Landro, Carbonin Senluderb , 46.63°N 12.23°E, 1 403 m a.s.l., +5 °C m.a.t., 29.vi.1991, leg. Y. Brodin ; 1 adult male ( MTSN), Lago di Garda, Riva del Garda , 45.87°N 10.83°E, 65 m a.s.l., +13 °C m.a.t., 29.ix.2004, leg. L. Marziali. — JAPAN, 2 adult males ( KUHY), Lake Ikuta , 35.3°N 139.3°E, 60 m a.s.l., +16 °C m.a.t., vii.1992, leg. T. Kobayashi .— LEBANON, 3 adult males ( NHRS), Anjar-Chamsine, affluent Ghozayel du Litani , cold springs, 33.74°N 35.96°E, 940 m a.s.l., +14 °C m.a.t., 15.iii.1982, leg. J. Moubayed-Breil ; 2 adult males ( NHRS), River Damour, Damour , 33.70°N 35.46°E, 50 m a.s.l., +18 °C m.a.t., 17.vi‒17.vii.1979, leg. J. Moubayed-Breil ; 2 adult males ( NHRS), Jib-Jennine , stream, 33.54°N 35.69°E, 800 m a.s.l., +15 °C m.a.t., 10.v.1982, leg. J. Moubayed-Breil ; 2 adult males ( NHRS), Nahr Beyroth Chyah Reservoir , 33.9°N 35.5°E, 39 m a.s.l., +18 °C m.a.t., 22.v.1982, leg. J. Moubayed-Breil. — PORTUGAL, 2 adult males ( NHRS), Albuferira, Santa Clara Reservoir , 37.52°N 8.44°W, 127 m a.s.l., +16 °C m.a.t., 5.v.1996, leg. Y. Brodin and K. Murray-Brodin. — ROMANIA, 2 adult males ( NHRS), Malaie, Lake Bradisar , 45.35°N 24.08°E, 450 m a.s.l., +8 °C m.a.t., 23.vi.1991, leg. Y. Brodin and M. Gransberg. — RUSSIA, 2 adult males (as Procladius sp. , TIEV), Kuybyshev Reservoir , 53.6°N 49.0°E, 47 m a.s.l., +6 °C m.a.t., vii.1977 ; 1 adult male ( SMUS), River Volga , Saratov, 51.3°N 45.9°E, 9 m a.s.l., +8 °C m.a.t., vi.1995, leg. I. V. Sergeeva .— SPAIN, 1 adult male (as Procladius sp. , DEBE), Cordoba, Retortillo Reservoir , 37.50°N 5.21°W, 189 m a.s.l., +17 °C m.a.t., 24.xi.1974, leg. N. Prat ; 1 adult male (as P. rivulorum, DEBE ), Orense, Velle Reservoir , 42.22°N 7.09°W, 108 m a.s.l., +14 °C m.a.t., 12.v.1974, leg. N. Prat. — SWEDEN, 1 adult male ( NHRS), Baltic Sea, Hamnefjärden Bay, Simpevarp , 57.42°N 16.67°E, 0 m a.s.l., +9 °C m.a.t., 5.v.1978, leg. Y. Brodin ; 2 adult males ( NHRS), Askö island, west of Askötorp , 58.81°N 17.67°E, 5 m a.s.l., +6 °C m.a.t., 24.vii‒19.viii.2011, leg. B.-E. Bengtsson [ Barcode BSCHI556-17 ] ; 1 adult male ( NHRS), Baltic Sea, Stora Karlsö island, Älmar , 57.29°N 17.97°E, 3 m a.s.l., +7 °C m.a.t., 13.viii.2011, leg. M. Forshage [ Barcode BSCHI187-17 ] .— TUNISIA, 1 adult male (as Procladius sp. , LHUC), Magsbaya , 37.09°N 9.26°E, 150 m a.s.l., +18 °C m.a.t., 2005, leg. S. Boulaaba. — UNITED STATES, 2 adult males (as P. freemani, USNM ), Edgerton, Lake Koshkanong , 42.86°N 89.00°W, 312 m a.s.l., +8 °C m.a.t., 9.vii.1947, leg. H.S. Dybas.

Diagnostic characters. Figs. 2 , 18 , 41 , 110‒112 , key couplet 22. P. choreus has a short gonostylus process with a GspR that overlaps that of nine other species of Procladius in Europe. Of these, P. bellus , P. nudipennis , P. clavus and P. gemma are easily morphologically separated from P. choreus as evident from the illustrations of genitalia and several characters in the key and the helpdesk.

P. choreus is sometimes very difficult to distinguish from P. breviatus in cases where the GspR is overlapping (0.13‒0.20 versus 0.10‒0.16). When overlapping, the species might be separated by a combination of characters related to size. P. choreus is often smaller than P. breviatus expressed as wing length (1.8‒2.8 versus 2.3‒3.2), mid leg tibia length (0.72‒1.14 mm versus 1.05‒1.26) and body length (2.9‒4.4 mm versus 3.9‒5.0 mm). In addition, P. choreus has an on average narrower gonostylus process relative to length compared with P. breviatus (0.7‒1.2 versus 0.5‒0.8).

The GspR of P. choreus entirely overlaps that of P. exilis (0.13‒0.20 versus 0.14‒0.19). P. choreus can be distinguished from P. exilis by the less slender gonostylus (GsmR 4.9‒5.6 versus 5.9‒6.9), median anepisternum setae numbers (0‒2 versus 10‒18) and size expressed as wing length (1.8‒2.8 versus 3.1‒3.5).

The GspR of P. choreus entirely overlaps that of P. saeticubitus (0.13‒0.20 versus 0.14‒0.20). P. choreus can be distinguished from P. saeticubitus by the less slender gonostylus (GsmR 4.9‒5.6 versus 5.9‒6.9), wing vein Cu stem setae number (0 versus 5‒33) and mostly also size e.g. mid leg tibia length (0.72‒1.14 mm versus 1.13.1‒1.43).

The GspR of P. choreus partly overlaps that of P. islandicus (0.13‒0.20 versus 0.18‒0.24). If overlapping, the species can mostly be distinguished by a combination of other characters. P. choreus has shorter hairs on the front leg compared with P. islandicus (BR 1.5‒3 versus 3‒6.5), usually shorter wing length (1.8‒2.8 mm versus 2.6‒3.5) and usually lighter colour exemplified by the posterior colour of tergite II‒IV (whitish to light brown contrasting with the clearly darker anterior part versus contrasting light brown to dark brown as the rest of the tergites).

P. choreus is sometimes difficult to distinguish from P. culiciformis in cases where the GspR overlaps (0.13‒0.20 versus 0.18‒0.25). When overlapping, the species can mostly be distinguished by a combination of other characters. P. choreus often has a slenderer gonostylus (GsmR 4.9‒5.6 versus 4.2‒5.2), and mostly smaller size as expressed by body length (2.9‒4.4 mm versus 4.4‒5.7 mm) and wing length (1.8‒2.8 mm versus 2.4‒3.5 mm).

P. choreus is confused with P. culiciformis in several publications, although correctly identified in the key of Pinder (1978), Sergeeva (1995) and Langton & Pinder (2007). The adult female, pupal exuvia and larva have been described in several papers. Barcodes of adult males and adult females are available.

Geographical distribution and ecology. P. choreus is among the most recorded and best studied species of Procladius in Europe and the world. Quality assured records are from about 149 sites. It has a wide geographical distribution with the southernmost findings in the Canary Islands ( Spain), Saudi Arabia and India at latitude 27‒ 28°N . The southernmost findings in Europe are at 35‒ 36°N in Malta and Cyprus, and the northernmost in Finland at 60°N . The findings worldwide comprise about 57 countries or autonomous regions from the subtropical to the boreal zone, and even a semidesert area of southern Russia. Mean annual temperature ranges from +25 to +5 ° C. There is a distinct trend that specimens of P. choreus are gradually darker, larger and somewhat hairier with colder climate conditions. Records of the species are from at least 38 countries or autonomous regions in Europe , with a notable occurrence on the isolated Azore Islands at 28°W .

Outside Europe, findings of P. choreus are reported from about 20 countries or autonomies stretching from the Canary Islands, Jordan, Iran, India to the most western findings in Japan. Most findings are from altitudes from below sea level at – 5 m to about 300 m above. In Mediterranean countries some records are from above 1 000 m above sea level with 1 400 m in Italy as the highest point. Almost 1 400 m above sea level is also reached in Iran.

P. choreus is among the most common of all chironomid species in European lakes and lake-like reservoirs. Literature studies imply that the species can be expected from all European lakes with mesotrophic, eutrophic and hypereutrophic conditions. P. choreus is rather common in oligotrophic conditions but possibly never reported from ultraoligotrophic environments. P. choreus has frequently been reported to be the most abundant chironomid species or even of all macrobenthos in eutrophic to hypereutrophic lakes and reservoirs. In line with this, the larvae have been pointed out as very important food items for various fish such as carps ( Cyprinidae ) and salmonids ( Salmonidae ). Adult P. choreus have been reported to be important food items for birds and bats.

Larvae of P.choreus are mainly littoral at water depths from 0 to 8 m in vegetation referred to as reed ( Phragmites , Arundo , Glyceria and others) or water lilies ( Nymphaeaceae ), but also in zones with only submerged plants and macroalgae. The larvae are mostly on mud bottoms, but sometimes on sand bottoms. Larvae of P. choreus are less frequently found in the profundal zone with low oxygen conditions in eutrophic or hypereutrophic lakes and reservoirs where they seem to be outnumbered by P. ferrugineus .

P.choreus might have the most extensive adaptability to different kinds or waters among the species of Procladiu s. Except for P. breviatus , it seems to be the best adapted Procladius to saline conditions, such as brackish coastal waters at the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea and estuaries of the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea. Larvae of P. choreus inhabit lakes or ponds with much higher salt content than in the sea, such as in small coastal waters in Scotland, France and Tunisia. It has not been found in true marine conditions.

Rivers and streams are frequent habitats of P. choreus larvae, but not the swift flowing upper reaches. Springs, ponds and puddles are also colonized by P. choreus larvae, even those which dry out completely during summer. One of these ponds is defined as thermal as it is fed by hot water from a natural spring. The larvae are well suited to withstand strong human impact such as severe eutrophication and heavy metal contamination. P. choreus are among the first chironomids to colonize new ponds and reservoirs only a few days after these have been constructed.

Even completely human constructions in urban areas are colonized by P. choreus larvae, such as garden or park ponds in Austria, Germany and Spain, fountain ponds in Denmark and sand filter beds in constructed pools for water purification in England and Japan. Some of these ponds are only 1 m in diameter, less than 1 m deep and contain no water during winter months. Larvae of P. choreus are furthermore known to inhabit flooded rice fields in Italy, Hungary and Romania.

The omnivorous diet of P. choreus includes detritus, algae and animals such as other chironomids, oligochaetes and crustaceans. Mainly animal food promotes faster growth and earlier emergence, while larvae feeding only on algae and detritus seem not to be able to emerge to adults.

The species seems to be univoltine in northern Europe with adults flying from mid-April to mid-September. In southern Europe P. choreus fly all months and may develop three generations per year, or even four in southern Spain.

Countries with records of P. choreus in Europe are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal (including the Azores), Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Wales. Outside Europe P. choreus is recorded from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Morocco, North Korea, Russia (Asian part), Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States. It might also be present in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand.

References. Albu & Botnuric 1966; Alecsevnina 1988; Alecsevnina 1989; Aliyev et al. 2013; Anikina 2009b; Antinova 1993; Armitage 1983; Arnold & György 2004; Aydin & Samin 2020; Baker & McLachlan 1979; Belyavskaya & Konstantinov 1956; Beentjes et al. 2022; Berczik 1966; Bérg 1948; Bíró 1981; Bitušík et al. 2006; Bitušík et al. 2020; Boulaaba et al. 2022; Brodin & Hellberg 2023; Brundin 1949; Bukvová & Hamerlík 2015; Buskens & Moller Pillot 1992; Čerba et al. 2020; Chaib et al. 2011; Coe 1950; Cranston & Judd 1989; Dusoge 1980; Ebejer & Gatt 2021; Edwards 1929; Évrard 1995; Ferrarese 1992; Franz 1989; Gadawski 2020; Gadawski et al. 2022; Gerhardt & Janssens de Bisthoven 2000; Goetghebuer 1922; Goetghebuer 1927; Goetghebuer & Lenz 1936a; Goetghebuer & Lenz 1936b; Gong & Xie 2011; Grigelis 1985; Grzybkowska 1982; Hempel 2011; Hirabayashi et al. 2004; Ilieska & Smijkov 2020; Izvekova 1975; Jiménez & Herrera 1988; Kajak 1980; Kajak & Dusoge 1970; Kajak et al. 1968; Kang et al. 2022; Kashirskaya 1989; Kasymov 1961; Kettani & Moubayed-Breil 2018; Kettani et al. 2022; Kieffer 1911; Kieffer 1913; Kieffer 1918a; Kieffer 1924; Kim et al. 2012; Kobayashi 1998; Kobayashi 2000; Koreneva 1959; Krebs 1979; Langton 1991; Langton & Pinder 2007; Langton & Visser 2003; Larsen 1993; Lods-Crozet & Lachavanne 1994; Mackey 1976; Makarchenko et al. 2016; Meigen 1804; Meigen 1818; Michailova 1996; Mohammadi et al. 2021; Mol 1984; Moller Pillot & Buskens 1990; Mondal et al. 2021; Móra et al. 2004; Móra & Csabai 2008; Morrisey 1950; Mothes 1966; Moubayed-Breil et al. 2013; Mundie 1957; Murray et al. 2004; Niedźwiecki 1970; Nietzke 1937; O´Dell 2018; Oliver 1981; Orendt et al. 2012; Pagast 1931; Pankratova 1977; Papatheodoulou 2020; Parma & Krebs 1977; Pinder 1978; Płóciennik & Karaouzas 2014; Płóciennik & Pešić 2012; Płóciennik et al. 2018; Potter & Learner 1974; Prat 1979; Prat 1980; Prat & Rieradevall 1995; Ratnasingham & Hebert 2007; Ratnasingham et al. 2024; Raposeiro et al. 2009; Roback 1971; Roback 1980; Sandberg 1969; Šapkarev 1975; Sergeeva 1995; Sergeeva 2001; Sergeeva 2006; Sergeeva & Anikina 2009; Shcherbina 1989; Shilova 1976; Slavevska-Stamenković et al. 2009; Soriano et al. 1993; Specziár 2008; Stojanovski & Angelovski 1992; Street & Titmus 1979; Stuart 1942; Sublette 1964; Tarwid 1969; Tasdemir & Akyildiz 2023; Tatole 2023; Thienemann 1948; Thienemann 1950; Thienemann 1954; Timm et al. 1994; ToderaŞ 1984; Tokunaga 1937; Tõlp 1979; Tourenq 1976; Vallenduuk & Moller Pillot 2007; Vesterinen et al. 2013; Vilchez & Casas 1987; Wang 1987; Wang & Zheng 1992; Wiederholm 1974; Wotton et al. 1992; Xie & Yin 1984; Xiong et al. 2008; Zerguine 2014; Zetterstedt 1850; Zinchenko 1992.

Figures

FIGURES 2‒3. Fig. 2: Frontal view of head of Procladius choreus, male from Lebanon, with characters useful for species identification indicated, cf.Table 2 H5‒H9, H11‒H12.Fig. 3: Left labium part of Procladius culiciformis, male from Switzerland, with longish thickened bristles indicated, cf. Table 2 H13.

FIGURES 18‒19. Fig. 18: Dorsal view of left gonostylus of Procladius choreus, male from Romania, with characters used for calculation of GspR and GsmR indicated, cf. Table 2 G18, G22‒G23, G27‒G32. Fig. 19: Schematic oblique side view of left gonostylus of Procladius longistilus (left) and Procladius crassinervis (right) indicating upward oriented gonostylus process, cf. Table 2 G33.

FIGURES 40‒43. Male genitalia of Procladius species. 40: P. culiciformis from Sweden. 41: P. choreus from Romania. 42: P. bellus from Sweden. 43: P. nudipennis from Finland.

FIGURES 110‒112. Male genitalia left gonostylus of Procladius choreus. Fig. 110: Sweden. Fig. 111: Cyprus. Fig. 112: Romania.