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Blind flight? A new troglobiotic orthoclad (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Lukina jama – Trojama cave in Croatia.

During expeditions to the Lukina jama – Trojama cave system in the Velebit Mountain in Croatia in 2013, several females of a pale Chironomidae belonging to the subfamily Orthocladiinae were collected in a chamber at 980 m below the surface. The specimens were found to belong to an undescribed chironomid genus, which will hopefully be published during the autumn. Molecular phylogenetic analysis groups it with the genera Tvetenia, Cardiocladius and Eukiefferiella in the “tribe Metriocnemini”. Morphological features like pale color, strongly reduced eyes and very long legs make it a typical cave animal. Surprisingly, it has also retained large wings and appears to be capable of flight which would make it the first flying troglobiont worldwide, disproving previous beliefs that bats are the only animals capable of flying in complete darkness. The species appears to be parthenogenetic, as only females were collected. The discovery confirms the position of the Dinaric arch as a highly important hotspot of subterranean biodiversity.

troglobiont; Orthocladinae; parthenogenesis; flight

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