Alexander, C.P. 1928. New or little-known Tipulidae from eastern Asia (Diptera). II. Philippine Journal of Science 35: 484.
The genus Taiwanina is a group of just two small, ornately colored species exclusive to the Oriental Region. They are grouped together based on: 1) the reduced number of antennal segments caused by fusion of the first three antennomeres into a single fusion segment, 2) the prominent anterior projection of the praescutum, and 3) the ornate coloration of the wing, throax, and abdomen.
Head: anterior vertex suppressed; reduced by the close approximation the eyes, eyes nearly contiguous ventrally. Rostrum length subequal to or slightly shorter than the remaining head. Maxillary palpus greatly reduced, the length less than that of remaining head; palpomeres subequal. Antennae: 12 articles, the first segment a fusion of segments 1-3; basal antennomeres cylindrical, distal segments becoming elongate. Thorax: Praescutum produced anteriorly, partially hiding pronotum.
Wing: Subhyline base, extensively patterned with darker areas along veins and within cells; stigma absent or obscured by wing coloration; anal angle present. Wing venation: Sc1 short, not or slightly removed from Sc2; both elements ending between origin and split of Rs; R2 crossvein absent, R1+2 straight to wing margin; two branches of Rs (R4, R5) attaining wing margin; two Medial veins (M1+2, M3) attaining wing margin; cell dm present; anterior wing chord in general alignment in distal 1/3 of wing; two Cubital veins (CuA1, CuA2) attaining wing margin; two Anal veins (A1, A2) attaining wing margin.
Male hypopygium: 9th tergite (9t) and sternite (9s) fused. Mesoventral lobe of gonocoxite absent or weakly produced. Gonostylus bifid; dorsal gonostyle a sclerotized rod, its apex with two decurved teeth, at times widely separated; ventral style a simple fleshy lobe of variable size, narrowing apically. Aedeagus simple with one or two terminal opening. Proctriger simple, without modification.
Taiwanina is limited to the Oriental Region, with one species known from Taiwan and the other from the Philippines
The larval habitat of this subgenus is unknown.
