New species and faunistic records of Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) from Belize

Four new species and 11 new faunistic records of Chironomidae are described and reported from the Guanacaste National Park, a small patch of tropical forest in the Belize Lowlands, adjacent to the Belize River and in proximity to an urban area. <i>Labrundinia belizensis</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. has a unique pattern and coloration on its abdominal tergites and possesses a transverse sternapodeme without an anterior process, distinguishing it from other related species. <i>Cricotopus mayaorum</i> <b>sp. nov</b>., and <i>Lauterborniella solangelhugo</i> <b>sp. nov</b>. are unusual in their characteristics of antenna, thorax, and hypopygium in comparison to the related species in their respective genus. The Polypedilum (Tripodura) francisae<b>sp. nov</b>. can be distinguished from its congeners by a broad and conoid anal point and a bulbous superior volsella that has a basolateral brush of long spine-like setae. Additionally, in this study, we report on new faunistic records of Chironomidae with both the Nearctic and the Neotropical influence. Given the short period of sampling (i.e., a few days) in which this study was conducted and the number of discoveries, the importance of the Neotropical study of Chironomidae biodiversity can be recognized.