(Meigen, 1830)
Body
Large larvae up to 17 mm long. Procercus and anal tubules present (Moller Pillot, 1984a).
Head
The head capsule is dull due to intensive fine granulation. Frontal apotome separate from clypeus and without a subapical pit Endoch frontoclypeus. Labral sclerite 2 present.
Antenna
The antenna consists of 5 segments. The blade is shorter than the flagellum. Lauterborn organs distally on the second segment.
Mentum
The mentum has two reduced median teeth Endoch lepidus mentum9 and 7 pairs of lateral teeth. The 2d pair of lateral teeth is reduced. The ventromental plates are fan-like, under low magnification a darker rim runs along the anterior side. The medio-anterior border of the plates is crenate.
Mandible
The mandible with a dorsal tooth, apical tooth dark and 3 dark inner teeth and a 4th smaller one, not quite separate from the base of the mandible Endoch dispar mandible.
Differential characteristics
The separation of clypeus and frontal apotome Endoch frontoclypeus is distinctive. Also combination of a mentum with 7 pairs of lateral teeth Endoch lepidus mentum9 and the dull headcapsule is unique in the Chironomini.
E. lepidus can be separated from the other Endochironomus by the mentum with reduced median and 2nd lateral teeth.