The adult of this species is amongst specimens that D.J. Forsyth called C. 'spilleri' (specimens now in the care of Ian Boothroyd). These adults were similar to those of C. species NZ12 in having bands across the anterior two thirds of abdominal segments 2 to 6 and on four fifths of segments 7 and 8. A pupa with a pharate male is available, from which the following characters could be determined:
Superior volsella with just a small hook at the tip.
Pupae about 6.5mm long (female); spurs with about 1 to 3 spines.
Larval Morphology: bathophilus-type larva. Generally smaller due to rearing at higher temperature (but larger when reared in the lab at lower temperatures), length about 10-16 mm. Head capsule with pale or very slightly darkened frontoclypeus, some darkening in posterior region of gula. Ventral tubules approximately equal in length, anterior from 0.44 - 1.24 mm and posterior from 0.40 - 1.36 mm. Anal tubules about twice as long as wide (abt. 300 x 165 µm(3)). Head relatively narrow, mentum width about 0.56 - 0.6 of VHL. Mentum (Fig. b) with 4th lateral reduced to about level of 5th laterals (type II); centre trifid tooth with distinct c2 teeth (i.e. Type II). Ventromentum (Fig. c) with about 33 - 41 striae. Pecten epipharyngis (Fig. a) with about 11-16 rather uneven teeth. Basal segment of antenna (Fig. d) about 3 - 4 times as long as wide; 4th segment relatively short, only about 20% longer than segment 3. Premandible with 2 teeth, inner tooth about 2 - 2.3 times the width of the outer tooth. Mandible (Fig. e) with 3rd inner tooth darkened and somewhat separated (i.e type II, tending to type III); about 7 - 16 striae near the base.
Cytology: 4 polytene chromosomes with the pseudothummi cytocomplex arm combination (AE, BF, CD, G). Arm G without a nucleolus, but with a large subterminal BR, and another may be developed about the middle of the arm The nucleolus is in arm F. Arm A has the sequence identical to A4 of oppositus, and A1 of C. novae-zelandiae. Arms C, D, E, and F appear identical to C1, D1, E1, and F1 of C. novae-zelandiae. No polymorphism known.
spiA1: 1a-e, 11 - 10, 2c - 1f, 3e - 2d, 8 - 9, 3f-i, 12c-a, 4 - 7, 13 - 19 ie. as A4 oppositus and nzl A1
spiB1: Derived from nzlB1 by a long inversion of the distal region. Puff with proximal dark bands (groups 7 - 8) towards distal end.
spiC1: Appears similar to C1 of tepperi, 'pseudoppositus', novae -zelandiae
spiD1: 1 - 2, 16 - 13, 3e-g, 12 - 11, 4 - 9, 3d-a, 10d-e, 10a-c, 17 - 24 as D1 of novae-zelandiae
spiE1: 1 - 3e, 10b - 3f, 10c - 13 ie. as E1 oppositus
spiF1: 1 - 2a, 10 - 2c, 15c - 11a, 2b, 15d - 23 ie. as oppositus
F3, australis, & C. novae-zelandiae
spiG1: subterminal BR
Click here to see the polytene chromosomes
Localities:
North Island:
Lake Rotowhero, c.24 Km s. Rotorua, South Auckland (NZ.11) (D.J. Forsyth & Jon Martin) 1970-1973.
This species may be confined to thermal lakes. Lake Rotowhero varies in temperature from 29.5 to 38oC during the year.
Initially included with C. novae-zelandiae, but shows consistent differences in the lighter larval head colour and some unique banding patterns. The existence of this species was first indicated by the barcoding analyses of Sofia Ibarraran.