Description of the adult and immature stages of Clunio ponticus Michailova, 1980 (Diptera, Chironomidae), from the Black Sea, Varna, Bulgaria

The mature and immature stages of Clunio ponticus Michailova, 1980 are diagnosed and described based on associated material recently collected in the marine littoral zone of Varna, St-Konstantin and Helena Resorts, Black Sea (eastern Bulgaria). Male and female adults, pupae and larvae of C. ponticus can be easily distinguished from other known European Clunio species on the basis of some atypical features found in the male and female adults, pupal exuviae and fourth instar larvae. In addition, the biological cycle (reproduction and emergence) of C. ponticus is not synchronized with lunar periodicity (new and full moon) as for some other known Clunio species from Europe, but closely related to the typology of the intertidal zone along the coastline of the Black Sea. This indicates that this species is a local biogeographic representative of the ‘Pontus Region’, which includes the eastern coastline of the Black Sea. Remarks on related known Clunio species from Europe with comments on the ecology and geographical distribution of C. ponticus are given.