New species and notes of Oukuriella Epler, 1986 (Diptera: Chironomidae) from Brazil

Oukuriella is a Neotropical genus of Chironomidae (Diptera) that was described by Epler in 1986 on the basis of three species, type species O. albistyla, and are divided into two groups: species associated with freshwater sponges and species associated with submerged wood. The male adults of Oukuriella can be separated from those in other genera of Chironomini based on the following combination of characters: bare squama, absence of anal point and superior volsella bifid. Recently, taxonomic knowledge of the genus has grown considerably, especially in Brazil, with a total of 24 species, but only six of them with known immatures. Three new species of Oukuriella are described and figured in the adult male stage, Oukuriella fittkaui sp. n., Oukuriella hamadae Bellodi, Pinho and Fusari sp. n., Oukuriella spiesi sp. n. and larvae and pupa of O. digita. Keys for species identification are provided for the adult males, pupae, and larvae.