The Chironomus species studied by Letha Karunakaran in Singapore, with a review of the status of selected South-East Asian Chironomus

In the 1960s Letha Karunakaran studied chironomid fauna of Singapore but faced a lack sufficiently detailed descriptions to enable identification her material with any certainty. She recognized seven species Chironomus (s.s) sent me fixed larval only four these which she tentatively identified as C. apicatus Johannsen 1932, costatus javanus Kieffer 1924, and stupidus 1932. larvae for confirmation identifications, died before I was able determine accurate identities from morphology alone. With additional comparative material, along polytene chromosome banding patterns DNA barcode sequence mitochondrial COI gene, have been form flaviplumus (auct, not Tokunaga)(here called Type B), circumdatus 1916, probably striatipennis 1910, Kiefferulus barbatitarsis (Kieffer 1911), respectively. The one required an assessment present state knowledge this where name has applied at least five different species. Determination valid is currently possible. confusion indication that there are number closely related constitute “C. group”.