Chironomids diversity of Manipur

Abstract

Chironomids are Diptera and these are good bioindicators of aquatic habitats, and serve as food of aquatic as well as the lower terrestrial animals. The diversity of these were assessed from the Dhanamanjuri University Campus, which revealed three genera and one unidentified genus viz., Kiefferulus calligaster, Chironomus plumosus, Chironomus circumdatus and one morphotype closely resembling Yama (Yama type). The chromosome compliments of these were observed to be with 2n=8 (K. calligaster- AB, CD, EF, G; C. plumosus- AB, CD, EF, G; C. circumdatus- BF, CD, AE, G and Yama type- AE, BF, CD, G). The differences were in the translocation both in NOR and chromosomes. Kiefferulus calligaster, C. plumosus, Yama type and C. circumdatus were observed coexisting in cemented drainage, with Yama type being predominant in the pond; the latter was mainly collected from more contaminated ditches with domestic waste. The polytene chromosomes were species-specific and could be utilized to identify the species in the larval forms.