Axarus

Taxobox | name = "Axarus"

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
subclassis = Pterygota
infraclassis = Neoptera
superordo = Endopterygota
ordo = Diptera
subordo = Nematocera
infraordo = Culicomorpha
superfamilia = Chironomoidea
genus = "Axarus"
genus_authority =

The genus "Axarus" is widely distributed with records from the Holarctic, the Neotropics and Australasia [cite journal | quotes=no author=Andersen, T. & H. F. Mendes| title=New species and records of the "Axarus" "rogersi-group" from South and Central America (Diptera, Chironomidae)| journal=Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae| year=2002 | pages=35–40 | volume=48] [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Cranston, P. S., M. E. Dillon, L. C. V. Pinder & F. Reiss| title=The Adult Males of Chironominae (Diptera, Chironomidae) of the Holarctic Region - Keys and Diagnoses| journal=Ent. Scand.| year=1989 | pages=353–502 | volume=??] . There are currently 5 described nearctic species [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Townes, H. K.| title=The nearctic species of Tendipedini (Diptera, Tendipedidae (= Chironomidae))| journal=American Midland Naturalist| year=1945| pages=1–206 | volume=34| doi=10.2307/2421112] . Erected as a subgenus ("Anceus") of "Xenochironomus" [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Roback, S. S. | title=The genus "Xenochironomus" (Diptera: Tendipedidae) Kieffer, taxonomy and immature stages| journal=Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. | year=1963 | pages=235–245 | volume=88] , "Axarus" was subsequently renamed and elevated to generic status [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Roback, S. S. | title=The immature chironomids of the eastern United States. IV. Tanypodinae-Procladiini.| journal=Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phil. | year=1980 | pages=73–128 | volume=133] . The Connecticut River in the eastern United States harbors locally dense populations of two "Axarus" species, both currently undescribed. These populations are interesting in that they are restricted to specific larval habitat (varve clay and sometimes rotting wood) and thus there is genetic structure between populations in the river [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Werle, S. F. | title=Populations of a Connecticut River midge structured by geological history and downstream gene flow| journal=Chromosome Research| year=2005 | pages=97–106 | volume=13 | doi=10.1007/s10577-005-2358-6] . The Connecticut River species are also notable in that they have extremely well-developed polytene chromosomes and also maintain a high degree of inversion polymorphism [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Werle, S. F., E. Klekowski & D. G. Smith| title=Inversion polymorphism in a Connecticut River "Axarus" species (Diptera: Chironomidae): biometric effects of a triple inversion heterozygote | journal=Can. J. Zool. | year=2004 | pages=118–129|volume=82| doi=10.1139/z03-227] [cite journal | quotes=no | author=Werle, S. F., D. G. Smith & E. Klekowski| title=Life in Crumbling Clay: The Biology of "Axarus" Species (Diptera: Chironomidae) in the Connecticut River | journal=Northeastern Naturalist| year=2004 | pages=443–458 | volume=11 | issue=4| doi=10.1656/1092-6194(2004)011 [0443:LICCTB] 2.0.CO;2| doilabel=10.1656/1092-6194(2004)011[0443:LICCTB]2.0.CO;2] .

References