WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TRIPLECTIDINAE (TRICHOPTERA LEPTOCERIDAE) DESCRIPTION OF THE FEMALE OF TRIPLECTIDES NIVEIPENNIS AND LARVAE BELONGING TO FOUR GENERA

17 Pages·2003·5.3 MB·

by  Rosalind M St. Clair

.
Recordsofthe WesternAustralianMuseum 21: 111-127 (2002).
Western Australian Triplectidinae (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae):
descriptions of the female of Triplectides niveipennis
and larvae belonging to four genera
RosalindM. StClair
EnvironmentProtectionAuthority,FreshwaterSciences,GPOBox4395QQ,Melbourne3001,Victoria,Australia
email: [email protected]
Abstract - Larvae of Condocerus aptus, Notoperata tenax, Symphitoneuria
ivheeleri, Triplectides niveipennis, and Triplectides enthesis are described for the
first time. The femaleofTriplectides niveipennis is also described for thefirst
time. Variation in larvae and adults of Triplectides niveipennis is discussed,
together with unusual characters in the larvae requiring redefinition of the .
genus. Minor changes to the generic descriptions of Condocerus, Notoperata N 20tJ2
andSymphitoneuriaarealsomade.
INTRODUCTION specimens are available to resolve problems at this
Leptoceridae is a major family of Trichoptera in time. The larvae are unusual and require
WesternAustralia,beingbothdiverseandcommon. redefinitionofthegenus.
The adult leptocerid fauna of Western Australia is Most specimens examined were collected
moderately well known, due largely to the efforts during the Land and Water Resources Research
of Arthur Neboiss (1982). The Monitoring River Development Corporation funded Monitoring
Health Program has resulted in large numbers of River Health Program and material is to be
dsipsetcriimbeuntsioonfldaartvaaebaavsaeildabolenfaorduslttus.dyTthoeasuegmdeantta dlaotdagefdorinthtihsemWaetsetriearlnsAtuasrttrwailitahnMMUusReufomr.sSiittees
indicate three leptocerid faunas in Western sampled by Murdoch University, CALM for
Austraha; one in the coolerwetter south west, one Department of Conservation and Land
in the large rivers of the north, and one in the dry ManagUemWeAnt, ECU for Edith Cowan University
asroeuatshewrinthfaluinttaleispelramrgaenleyntenfdreemsihcwawtheirl.eTthhee Aaunsdtralia. NufmobrertshebeUgniinvneirnsgiwtiythoAfVWeresfteerrtno
nnfooorruttnhhderttnohrfQoauuugenheaonusistlagaenrnidedrAaaunlsldtyratslhpiera.eaardidriagrhetaacfraousnsathies ANsupusemtcbriaemlreisnasnbeMlgouidsngneeiudnmginwriegttihhsetWrMaAutiMsoenrunemufemrboetforsVWi.ecstSotoreimraen.
Quite a deal of workremains to associate larvae larvae examined were collected by Pierre
with adults. Some Western Australian larvae were Horwitz at Edith Cowan University as part of a
assigned to species by St Clair (2000) but not program looking at peat areas. All other
described. Mostofthesespeciesare describedhere. specimens are in the Western Australian
Many other species were designated voucher Museum unless otherwise specified. All
numbers by St Clair (2000) as they could not be specimens listed under Material examined are
associatedwithadultsand thesespeciesrequirethe larvae unless the male or female symbols are
moststudyinWesternAustralia. used to designateadults.
Larvae of Condocerus aptus, Notoperata tenax,
Symphitoneuria xuheeleri, Triplectides niveipennis, and CondocerusNeboiss
Triplectides enthesis are described for the first time. This Australian genus is represented by two
The female of Triplectides niveipennis is also species only, very similar in appearance as larvae,
described for the first time. All of these species withonefromeachsideofthecontinent.Thelarvae
appear to be restricted to the southwestern part of of both species feed by attaching their case to
the state, none reported from north of Perth. something solid at the surface of the water in fast
ExceptionsareonerecordofT.enthesisfrom thefar flow and lying with their long back legs
north and the extension of the range of S. ivheeleri outstretchedtocollectlive ordeadanimalsdrifting
intoSouthAustralia. past.Thismethodoffeedingisuniquetothisgenus,
Larvae and adults of Triplectides niveipennis are althoughlastinstarlarvaeofTriplectidessimilisfeed
foundtobevariablebutnotenoughadultorreared onsimilarfood.
112 R.M.StClair
As a result of associating Condocerus aptus, the usually about 1.5 times length of larva but case
larval generic description given by St Clair (1994) often longer due to long "stabilisers." Identical to
requires modification. The labrum is described as thatofC.paludosus.
nothaving secondarysetaebut they are present in
the species described here.This character is shared
Earlyinstarlarvae
inAustraliawithTriplexaandOecetis (StClair,1994) Pronotum with six or seven sclerites orhind legs
andwithNotoperatatenax(seebelow). withlongspine-likesetaeandwithoutpalesetaeon
most segments allow identification ofmany earlier
CondocerusaptusNeboiss instarlarvae.
Larva
Figures1-5,32 Remarks
This species is extremely similar to C. paludosus
Diagnosis
from eastern Australia, differing only in the
The front of the frontoclypeus and the labrum
presenceofsecondarysetaeonthelabrumandfront
havesecondarysetae(Figures1 and2). ofthefrontoclypeusandslightdifferencesincolour
ofthehead.
Description
Head(Figures1,2and3) Materialexamined
Width measured across, and including, the eyes Western Australia: AV-0472 Foster Brook, North
about 0.7 mm. Brown, paler laterally with lightly Dandalup, 32°29'S 116°03'E Coll. S. Bunn 19
contrasting brown spots and contrasting yellow September 1981, 4; Foster Brook, North Dandalup,
spot centrally towards anterior margin of 32°29'S 116°03'E, indrift. Coll. S. Bunn31 Jul. 1981,
frontoclypeus, sometimes with small paired paler 3; ECU27, Blackwood River at Spearwood,
spotsanteriorand/orposterior to thisyellow spot; 34°05'07"S115°18'47"E, 10October1994,Channel,2;
frontoclypeuswidestonanteriormargin;secondary ECU21, Ellis Creek, 33°55’59"S 115°52'53"E, 23
setae present at front margin of the head and on September 1994, 1; MUR08, Dirk Brook, 32°26’39'’S
labrum;ventralapotomenarrowmedially. 116°01'34"E, 7 September 1994, Macrophytes, 4,
Channel, 1; MUR12, Little Dandelup River,
Thorax(Figures1 and4) 32°35'31"S 116°01’34"E, 7 September 1994,
Pronotum mostly uniform brown; mesonotum Macrophytes, 2, Channel, 2; MUR13, Big Brook,
with few slightly contrasting spots; metanotal 32°52'51"S 116°06'16"E, 8 September 1994, Channel,
scleritesbrown;metastemumwithrowofsetaeand 8;MUR17, Stones Brook, 33°21'43"S 115°57'01"E, 15
additional setae anterior to this row, most setae September 1994 Riffle, 1; MUR18, Ernest River,
with small but prominent sclerite at base; legs 33°ir33"S116°01'49"E, 15September 1994Charmel,
uniform in colour, long spine-like setae present 15; MUR23, Harvey River at Hoffmans Mill,
ventrally on fore- femora, tibiae and tarsi, mid 33°04'41"S 116°06'56"E, 9 September 1994,
femur,tibiaeandtarsiandhindtrochanters,femora, Macrophytes,35,Channel,4;MUR24,HarveyRiver
tibiaeandtarsi(Figure5). TCrhiabrmuetla,ry2,;U3W3A'’O0l1,T0B"eSed1e1l6u'p’0B5r'3o7o"kE,at9SteSeepplR9o9a4d,,
Abdomen 34°24'47"S 115'’52'29"E, 15 October 1994Channel,2,
Setaeonfirstabdominalsegmenteachwithsmall Macrophytes, 4; UWA04, Fly Brook at Alamein
bgiultlspornomsiengemnetntscsle4ritteoa6t (braasree;lytw3otopa6i)rsonolfyshaonrdt MTEraaascctrkeo,rpnh3y4tB°er2se7,'a5k91’6R';SoUa1dW1,A5°035840°,’2069T'"r5Ee9,e"nS16B1r1Oo5co°tk5o,7b'e2t5rr"acE1k,99o14f5,f
ascdldeirtiitoenaolngailbldsoamtintahel tsiepgomfentthe9asbmdaolmlena;nddovresrayl October 1994, Organics, 1; UWAIO, Un-named
stream on Lewis Road, 34°35'32"S 115°54'46"E,
cpallaew,speiagcmhewnittshptohtrseeobsvmiaolulsdoonrslaylotceceatshi.onally;anal MRaocardo,ph3y4t°2e7s',554"5S; 1U1W6A°0123'0,0"EEa.st13BrOocotkobaetrR1a9s9p4y,
Macrophytes, 3; UWA17, Un-named tributary at
BodyLength Marron Rd,34°48'01"S116°21'27"E, 12October1994
About12mm. Macrophytes, 1; UWA18, Shannon River at Nelson
Road, 34°42'24"S 116°21'27"E, 11 October 1994,
Case Macrophytes,5;UWA20,ForthRiveratChesapeake
Madeofsmallpiecesofplantmatter,oftengreen, Road, 34°51'52"S 116°25'29"E, 12 October 1994, 24;
arranged to form tapering tube. Usually with UWA22, Tributary of Weld River, 34°41'23"S
additional long sections of detritus on sides and 116°31T5"E, 9 October 1994, Macrophytes, 13;
back appearing to act as stabilisers to help hold UWA25, Deep River at Bevan Road, 34°35'36"S
animal on the water surface and in current. Tube 116°33'06"E, 9 October 1994, Macrophytes, 1;
WesternAustralianTriplectidinae 113
Figures1-5 Condocerus aptus larva, specimen vial AV-0472: 1, head and thorax dorsal; 2, labrum dorsal; 3, head
ventral;4,metasternum;5,righthindlegposterior.Allscalebars0.1mm.
114 R.M.StClair
UWA27, Bell Brook at track of South Western margin scalloped, anterolateral corner much
Highway, 34°58'25"S 116°35'51"E, 30 September extended and cut away laterally; mesonotum dark
1994, Macrophytes, 1; UWA29, Walpole River off brownwithpalerspots;metanotumpalewithdark
Plain Road, 34°57'40'’S 116°42'17''E, 8 October 1994, patches, lateral sclerites about 1/3-1/2 length of
Macrophytes, 40; UWA30, Nile Creek at Break segment; metastemum with about eight scattered
Road, 34°50'41"S 117°02'37"E, 29 September 1994, setae andnosclerites; legswith darkerbands, with
Macrophytes,1;UWA32,StyxRiver,0.5kmupfrom somemoderatelylongspine-likesetaeventrallyand
Styx Road, 34°52'57"S 117°08'21"E, 27 September longsetae(Figure9).
1994, Macrophytes, 2; UWA34, Denmark River at
GraniteRoad,34°49'47'S 117°15'02"E,28September Abdomen
1994,Macrophytes,6. Gillssinglefilamentsonsegments2to4dorsally,
2 to3or5laterallyand2 to5 or6ventrally; tergite
HabitatandDistribution 9verypaleandcomparativelylarge;analclawwith
Western Australia, confined to areas with twodorsalteeth.
permanentflowintheSouthwest(Figure32).
BodyLength
About9mm.
NotoperataNeboiss
This is a genus offive described species, allfrom
Case
Australia. I recognise larvae from a further two Tubular,madeofdetritus.
species (StClair, 2000). Atleast three species occur
in Western Australia. The description here of the
Remarks
larvaofNotoperata tenaxis thefirstofthe larvaofa
speciesfromWesternAustralia,theotherspeciesin This species shares with the two species already
thisstatenothavingbeenassociatedwiththeadult. describedas larvae (StClair, 1994) the anterolateral
A key separating the larv'ae of the species was pronotal extensions and cutaway anterolateral
providedbyStClair(2000). pronotalmargin.Itdiffersmarkedlyinthepresence
The larval generic description given by St Clair of a line ofnine pairs oflong setae on the labrum,
(1994) requires modification in that the labrum of which is unique in theAustralian Leptoceridaebut
the species described here has nine pairs of setae very similar to several genera of Calamoceratidae
dorsally along the mid section of the labrum. In whichhaveeightpairsofsetae.
Australia, as noted above, secondary setae are also
present on labra of larvae of Condocerus, Triplexa Material examined
and Oecetis although many more additional setae Western Australia: Lake Smith, Donelly
are present on the labra of these three genera than Catchment, 34°25'48"S 115°43'36"E, FBA, January
WAM
onthisspeciesofNotoperata. 1995,P. Horwitz,1, 27555;ECU5,Hamersley
River at Tallawarra, 33°43'43"S 121°14'48", 2
January 1995, Macrophytes, 2; ECU32, Margaret
NotoperatatenaxNeboiss River at Canebrake Road, 33°52'35"S 115°17'23", 17
Larva January1995,Macrophytes, 1;MUR08, DirkBrook,
Figures6-9,33 32°26'39"S 116°01'34"E, 7 September 1994,
Macrophytes, 2, Channel, 4; UWAOl, Beedelup
Diagnosis Brook at Steep Road, 34°24'47"S 115°52'29"E, 28
The labrum has a transverse medial line of nine January 1995, Organics, 1; IJWA15, Shannon River
pairs of setae (Figure 6), there are comparatively atCurtin4Road,34°34'12”S116°25’49'’E,18January
longextensionsonanteriorpronotalcomers(Figure 1995, Macrophytes, 1; UWA08, Treen Brook, track
6)andabout8metastemalsetaearepresent(Figure off Eastern Break Road, 34°26'59"S 115°57'25"E, 15
8). October1994,Channel,2.
Description HabitatandDistribution
Rivers and lakes in southwestern Western
Head(Figures6and7) Australia(Figure32).Possiblycoolwatersonly.The
7l.o2Wngim,dmtw.hidDmeaesrtaksobunrreoadwnntaecwrriiootsrhs,mpaaalrnegdrinsip;noctvlseu;ndtfirrnaogln,taotpcheloytepoyemeuess nfaortehaasdtetrhnesoitpep,oErCtLufnSi,tysetoemcsheacnkoimt.alousbutIhave
tapering.
SymphitoneuriaUlmer
Thorax(Figures6and8) The genus Symphitoneuria is known from three
Pronotum dark brown with paler spots, anterior Australian species, S. exigua described from
WesternAustralianTriplectidinae 115
[
WAM
Figures6-9 Notoperata tenax larva 27555: 6, head and thorax dorsal, showing pronotal anterolateral comer
detail;7,headventral;8,metastemumandmesostemalsclerites;9,righthindlegposterior.Allscalebars
0.1mm.
116 R.M.StClair
Queensland,S. oppositadescribedfromVictoriaand Earlyinstarlarvae
recentlyfoundintheMtKosciuszkoregionofNSW, Recognised by case (if sand grains used), small
and S. wheeleri described from Western Australia metanotal sclerites, divided hind tibiae and only
and recently found to occur in South Australia as palebasalscleritesonthemetastemum.
well. The larva of S. opposita was described by St
Clair (1994). The larva of S. wheeleri is described Remarks
here. A photograph ofthe larvae ofa third species Distribution can be used to identify the three
wasfiguredbyStClair(2000) asSymphitoneuria sp. Australianspecies,however,bothS. opposita and S.
AV 1. This maybe the larva ofS. exigiia. If so, this xvheelerioccurinSouthAustralia,althoughprobably
speciesoccursfromNorthQueenslandtomidNew in differentareas. Symphitoneuria wheeleri is readily
SouthWales. identifiedbytherelativelyunmodifiedfrontmargin
The larval generic description given by St Clair and anterolateral comers of the pronotum and by
(1994) requires minor modification as this species thecolourcontrastbetweenthepro-andmesonota.
does not have a long extension on the pronotal
anterolateralcomer. Material examined
Western Australia: AV-0469, Lake Preston, salty
SymphitoneuriawheeleriBanks dunelakeSofPerth,March 1972,Coll. P. Zwick,5;
Larva ECU2, Lort River at Grass Patch Road, 33°45'59"S
Figures10-12,32 119°36'59", 5 August 1995, 1; ECUS, Hamersley
RiveratTallawarra,33°43'43"S121°14'48",5August
Diagnosis 1995, 1; ECU7, Hamersley River at Old Ongerup
The pronotal anterior margin is only lightly Road, 33°17'14"S 121'’21T1", 1995, Channel, 3;
scalloped, the pronotal anterolateral comer only ECU8, Fitzgerald River at Quoin Head Track,
slightly elongate and angled or scooped out 33°53'16"S 119°51'59",6August 1995,Macrophytes,
laterally and the mesonotum is much paler than 7; ECU12, St Mary River Estuary, 34°09'34"S
pronotum(Figure10). 119°32'52", 9 August 1995, Channel, 5; ECU13,
Gairdner Creek at Monkey Rock Road, 34°00'39"S
Description 119°03'37", 5 January 1995, Channel, 1; ECU15,
Gairdner River at Devil Bend Road, 34°13'07"S
Head(Figures10and11) 119°15'57", 9 August 1995, Riffle, 3; ECU46,
Width measured across, and including, the eyes Channel, 4. South Australia: Saline pool. Coll.
0.73 mm. Brown with pale spots; antennae about Ghassemzodeh, February 1995, 4, lodged in the
1/3 length of the frontoclypeus on its anterior SouthAustralianMuseum.
margin;ventralapotometaperingslightly.
HabitatandDistribution
Thorax(Figures10and11) This species is found in lakes and rivers in
Pronotum brown with paler spots; mesonotum southern Western Australia (Figure 32) and South
palerwith darkspots; metanotal scleritespalewith AustraUa. This species is usually found in saline
darkspots, sometimes with a small sclerite atbase waters and its distribution maybe increasing with
of each long posterior seta; metasternum with increasingsalinity.
numerous setae, without metastemal sclerite; legs
sometimes with darker bands, claws dark brown
and contrastingwith restoflegsegments,andhind TriplectidesKolenati
legswithmoderatelylongspine-likesetaeandmost
setaedorsal(Figure12). TriplectidesisoneofthelargergenerainAustralia,
bothinnumberofspeciesandthesizeofthelarvae.
Abdomen It also occurs in South America and Asia. Only
three species are known from south-western
Gillssinglefilamentsonsegments 1 to8or2to8, Western Australia, although Triplectides niveipennis
2 to 5 or 7 laterally; lateral line moderately short iseitherpolymorphicortwocloselyrelatedspecies.
banrdowpnalsepootrs odanrkl;atetrearlgistceler9itvese,ryresptalvee,rynoptalvei;siabnlael; Tthweo,SoTu.thnwiveesitpewnhniisleatnhdeTt.hierndt,heTs.isa,ustarraelies,ndisemoince otfo
clawseachwithonedorsaltooth. very few caddis species found throughout the
continent. Triplectides niveipennis was associated
BodyLength with the adult recently and is described here. The
14mm. larva of T. enthesis is yet to be associated but the
larvadesignatedtoTriplectidessp.AVl(seeStClair,
Case 2000)isfound inappropriatehabitatsandisalmost
Tubular,madeofcoarsesandgrainsordetritus. certainly tlielarvaofT. enthesis. Itisdescribedhere
WesternAustralianTriplectidinae 117
Figures10-12 Symphitoneuria wlieeleri larva, specimen vial AV-0468: 10, head and thorax dorsal, showing pronotal
anterolateral cornerdetail; 11, head and thoraxventral; 12, righthind leg posterior. All scalebars 0.1
mm.
118 R.M.StClair
as the larva of T. enthesis. The larva of T. australis Triplectides sp. AV 20 has dark brown on the head
was described and figured by St Clair (1994) and dorsally, in a transverseband across thepronotum
figuredinpartbyStClair(2000). and on mid and hind-leg segments except coxae
The generic description given by St Clair (1994) and Triplectides sp. AV 21 is a much more uniform
requires amendment following the association of colour. Triplectidessp.AV20appearstohavelonger
Triplectides niveipennis. The antennae of all larval and more slender legs although ratios are fairly
Triplectides are short, one eighth to one quarter the similar (compare with tlie photograph. Figure 124,
lengthofthefrontoclypeusatitsfrontmargin. This ofthetwolarvaltypesbyStClair,2000).Thelength
characterwas the onlyone thatcompletely defines of the projections on the pronotum varies greatly,
the genus but now the larva of T. niveipennis is with short, intermediate, and long variations
known to have long antennae. The larva of T. occurring in Triplectides sp. AV 21. Only long
niveipennis are also unique in the genus in their projectionshavebeenseenin Triplectidessp.AV20,
tendency for each lateral metanotal sclerite to but fewer specimens have been examined. Both
divide into 2 sclerites and in having a long two- larval types and the full variation of the length of
pronged extension on the pronotal margin on each the pronotal projection in Triplectides sp. AV 21
side near the anterolateral corners. The full occurtogetheratsomelocalities.
implications of these unusual characters are Variation also occurs in the adults. Males reared
discussedbelow. from Triplectides sp. AV 20 larvae have pale hind
wings butmales reared from Triplectides sp. AV 21
KeytofinalinstarTriplectideslarvaeofsouth- lthaervsaheahpeavoefswehgimteenhtiXndanwdintghse.prSelaignhatlvaaprpieantdioangeisn
westernWesternAustralia
occurs,possibly related to larvalcolour differences
1 Threelargeyellow spotsonfrontoclypeus, one butnotenoughspecimensareassociatedtoconfirm
cinonsptorsitcetiroino;rmteitpaasntdemounmewiotnhaebaocuhts4idsemalolf sthpi.s.ATVh2e1wairnegpsaloefafnedmanloetswrheiatre,edbuftronmofTreimpallecetihdaess
sclerites, usually associated with pairs of been reared from a Triplectides sp. AV 20 larva for
setae; final instar larva with only slight comparison. The adult males reared from
scalloping on front margin of pronotum; AV
ventral apotome fairly broad posteriorly (St dTreispclreicpttiidoens.sp. 21 larvae best fit the original
Clair1994,2000) Triplectidesaustralis
No large spots on frontoclypeus (Figures 19, PositionofTriplectidesniveipennisinthegenus
25); metastemum without sclerites or with Based on characteristics of the male, Triplectides
extremely small sclerites at base of single niveipennis was placed in a group of its own by
setae(Figures23,27);two-prongedextension Morse and Neboiss (1982) but they noted
on front margin of pronotum on each side, similarities with Triplectides enthesis. In that
near the anterolateral comer, which may be
publication, the authors noted that "surely the
long to very short (Figures 20, 25); ventral discovery of the female for this species will shed
apotome tapering but not to point (Figures light on its historical relationships." Characters of
22,26) Triplectidesniveipennis the female also indicates this species has some
- No large spots on frontoclypeus (Figure 29); similarity with T. enthesis but does not clearly fit
metastemum with large but pale central into any particular group. Morse and Neboiss
sclerite (Figure 30); final instar larvae with (1982) note the female of T. enthesis has vertical
only lightscalloping onfrontmargin (Figure crescentic carina on upper lateral surface of
29); ventral apotome strongly tapering to segment IX relatively closer to anterior edge of
point(Figure30) Triplectidesenthesis segmentthaninotherTriplectidesspeciesandthisis
truealsoforT. niveipennis.
Only one character defines the genus Triplectides
TriplectidesniveipennisMosely in the larval stageand thatis thepresence of short
Figures13-28,34 antennae on the front margin of the head capsule.
This character is shared with some Leptocerinae
Triplectides niveipennis is either a polymorphic larvae (eg. some Oecetis and Ceraclea) but the
species or a species complex but too few adult or presence of metanotal sclerites in Triplectides is
reared specimensareavailableatpresenttoresolve sufficienttoseparateitsspeciesfromtheleptocerine
this issue. The species is unique in the Australian exceptions. While there are one or two characters
Leptoceridaefaunain thatithas twodistinctlarval that are found only in Triplectides, they are not
colour morphs. These two morphs are separated presentinallspeciesorallspecimensandsocannot
and designated different Australian Voucher beusedalonetodiagnosethegenus.AsTriplectides
species numbers for the larvae, Triplectides sp. AV niveipemtis larvae have long antennae, this leaves
20 and Triplectides sp. AV 21 (see St Clair, 2000). die genus not uniquely defined for the larval stage
WesternAustralianTriplectidinae 119
WAM
Figures13-18 Triplectidesniveipennisadultfemale 27557: 13,rightforewingdorsal;14,righthiWnAdMwingdorsal;
15, lastabdominal segmentventral;16, lastabdominalsegment lateral. Adult female 27556: 17,
lastabdominalsegmentsventral,showinglongtransparentprocess;18,lastabdominalsegmentslateral,
showinglongtransparentprocess.Scalebarsforfigures13and141.0mm,altotherscalebars0.1mm.
120 R.M.StClair
and confirms this species' uniqueness within the femalehasalongmembranousprojectionextending
genus. from segment IX dorsally (Figures 17 and 18), but
The larva of T. niveipennis has a sclerite such process was much shorter in one other
posteriorly on the metanotum, although often specimen and completely absent in the remaining
dividedintotwosclerites.Thisscleriteisonlyfound specimen.
in Triplectides and helps separate it from larvae of
its related genera. Unfortunatelyitis onlyfoiondin
about half the species. The case used by T. Larva
niveipennis is always a piece of stick or stem Diagnosis
hollowed out by the larva. This case type is only The antennae are long, at least 1/4 the width of
found in Triplectides and isusedbymost, ifnotall, the frontoclypeus on the anterior margin (rare
mofatnhyespsepceiceisesi.ntThheegepnruessbeuntcneotofalltihnedipvoidsutaelrsioorf psrpoencoitmaelnsanwtiertihorshmoartregrinanitsenlniaghet)ly(Fsicgaulrleop1e9d);atnhde
metanotal sclerite and the case type clearly place withtwolongorshorttwo-prongedextensionsand
thisspeciesinTriplectides. theanterolateralmarginisrounded (Figure20); the
Several larvae of T. enthesis have the lateral metanotum has five sclerites but long lateral and/
metanotalscleritedividedintotwo.Thisalsooccurs or posterior sclerites may be divided into two,
frequentlyin larvae ofthe three speciesofLectrides giving asmany as eight sclerites (Figure 21). Some
but has not been seen in other genera or other orallofthesescleritesmaybeverypale.
speciesofTriplectides.
The long antennae, the frequent division of the
Description
lateralscleritesonthemetanotumandtwopronged
processes on the front margin of the pronotum Triplectidessp.AV20
combine to give the larvae ofthis species a unique
place within the genus and do not align it within Head(Figures19and22)
any species group. Thearrangementofmetastemal Width measured across, and including, the eyes
sclerites andsetaeisalsounusualbutthereismore 0.93mm. Orangewithtriangulardarkpatchontop
variationwithinthespeciesgroupsinthischaracter. of the head extending almost to back of head,
The larva shows no particular similarity with the ventrally pale with numerous very pale spots in
larvaofTriplectidesenthesis. bands.
Thorax
Adult
Pronotum orange anteriorly and posteriorly,
Description browntransversebandmedially,withmedialprong
Female: Adultfemalessimilar tomalesinhaving of two-pronged process longer tlian lateral (Figure
dark segments distally on fore- and mid legs and 20); prostemal sclerite comparatively large (Figure
palps.Forewings(Figure 13)withsectoralcrossvein 23);hindlegsverylongandslender(Figure24);mid
almoststraight;posteriorveinformingdiscoidalcell andhindlegseachwithcoxaorange,restoflegdark
almost straight, S4 longer than in male forewing. brown; foreleg orange. (This species was originally
Hind wings (figure 14) pale but not white; not as designatedLeptoceridaeGenusBsp.AV3.)
enlarged and lacking additional veins present in
hind wing of described male (Morse and Neboiss Triplectidessp.AV21
1982). (The two males reared to the winged stage
also lack these additional veins in the hind wing, Head (Figures25and26)
althoughthewingisstillverybroadened). Width measured across, and including, the eyes
mm
Genitaha: (Figures 15 to 18) dorsal setose lobes 0.88-1.01 (2specimens). Darkred-brownwith
short; each without sensilla bearing process, palerspots.
although very small pale process is present on the
margin of the setose lobe (giving a bilobed Thorax(Figures25and27)
appearance) but without sensilla; lamellae Pronotum dark red-brown with paler spots;
moderately long, each with distinct longitudinal mesonotum brown; metanotum pale brown; hind
ridgedividingitintotwosectionsalmostaslongas legspalebrown,uniformincolour(Figure28). (This
eacliotherandwithsurfacesatrightanglestoeach species was originally designated Leptoceridae
other (thus appearing broad in both lateral and GenusBspp.AV1 and2.)
dorsal views), with short setae but apparently
without striae. Spermathecal sclerite with long Descriptionapplyingtobothlarvaltypes
rounded anterior extension. Spermathecal sclerite
most similar to that of T. elongatus but with some Head(Figures 19,22,25and26)
similarities also to T. australis and T. enthesis. One All setae on head comparatively pale;