Ephemera 27 : 93-105 (13 pages)

Heleniella crenophila and H. helenae spp. n., two new species occurring in France (Diptera, Chironomidae)

by Joel Moubayed ✻

Freshwater & Marine Biology
10 rue des Fenouils, 34070 Montpellier, France
chirojmb@free.fr

  • icône inbox Reçu le 16 mai 2026
  • icône check_circle Accepté le 22 juin 2026
  • icône library_books Publié le 27 juillet 2026
taxonomy new species Maritime Alps Eastern Pyrenees conservation

Espèces décrites :

French translation

Heleniella crenophila et H. helenae spp. n., deux nouvelles espèces présentes en France (Diptera, Chironomidae)

taxonomie nouvelle espèce Alpes maritimes Pyrénées orientales conservation

Heleniella crenophila sp. n. and H. helenae sp. n. are described and diagnosed based on material collected in two high mountainous sites: the first one in the maritime Alps (spring of Fontanalba, SE-France, alt. 1700-1500 m), the second in eastern Pyrenees (glacial upper stream of the River Têt, Massif of Carlit, S-France, alt. 2300-2100 m). H. crenophila sp. n. is described as male adult and pupal exuviae, H. helenae sp. n. is described only as male adult. H. crenophila sp. n. keys near H. ornaticollis (Edwards, 1929) and H. assiana Moubayed, 2026, while H. helenae sp. n. resembles to H. gaultieri Moubayed, 2018. Main distinguishing characters found in the male adult are: distribution pattern and number of setae on postnotum, unusual shape of virga, sternapodeme, phallapodeme, anal point, inferior volsella and gonostylus. The pupal exuviae of H. crenophila sp. n. is briefly described and illustrated on the basis of the chaetotaxy and distribution pattern of armament on sternites I-III. To date, the two discovered species increase the total number of known Heleniella species to six from France, with H. dorieri Serra-Tosio, 1966, H. gaultieri, H. ornaticollis and H. serratosioi Ringe, 1976. Taxonomic notes and comments on the ecology and geographical distribution of the two new species are given.


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