Ichthyocladius

Taxobox
name = "Icthyocladius"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
subphylum = Hexapoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota|
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Nematocera
infraordo = Culicomorpha
superfamilia = Chironomoidea
familia = Chironomidae
subfamilia = Orthocladiinae
genus = "Icthyocladius"
genus_authority = Fittkau, 1974

"Ichthyocladius" is a genus of chironomid midges that belongs to the subfamily Orthocladiinae described by Fittkau based on one species, "Ichthyocladius neotropicus", from Peru, though some other species were recognised, the lack of knowledge did not allow their description. Two additional species from Brazil were described by Mendes, Andersen & Sæther ("Ichthyocladius lilianae" and "Ichthyocladius kronichthicola").

The larvae live on fish, generally attached to their fins, of three different catfish families, Astroblepidae, Loricariidae and Trichomycteridae. The diet of the larvae is yet controversial, some say they feed on fish mucus while some say they are feeding on other things and use the fish only for locomotion.

References:

*Mendes, HF, Andersen T & Sæther, OA (2004) New species of "Ichthyocladius" Fittkau, a member of the Corynoneura-group (Diptera: Chironomidae: Orthocladiinae) with a review of the genus. Stud. Neotrop. Fauna Environ. 39: 15-35.

*Fittkau JE (1974) "Ichthyocladius" n. gen., eine neotropische Gattung der Orthocladiinae (Chironomidae, Diptera) deren Larven epizoisch auf Welsen (Astroblepidae und Loricariidae) leben. Ent. Tidskr. Suppl. 95: 91-106.