Family CONOESUCIDAE

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Introduction

Small to medium sized caddis-flies (wing span 10–25 mm), blackish-brown to black in colour, usually found amongst vegetation on the banks of fast flowing, small to medium sized streams. Keys and diagnostic information for immatures are given by Jackson (1998).

The family is restricted to the Australian region, where it is widespread in New Zealand, eastern Australia and Tasmania (Mosely & Kimmins 1953; as part of Sericostomatidae). There are 13 genera and more than 30 species, of which six genera with 23 species are recorded from Australia. Several studies have highlighted the problems of distinguishing the Conoesucidae and other 'sericostomatoid' families, among them that of Drektrah (1984). Jackson (1998) produced a guide to late instar larvae.

Diagnosis

Adults: ocelli absent. Maxillary palpi of males one to 3-segmented, often partly or entirely membranous, held upright in front of the face; in females the maxillary palpi are 5-segmented. Antennae stout, about as long as or slightly shorter than the forewing, basal segment long. Pronotum with a pair of transverse, elongate setal warts; mesoscutum without setal warts, but with a deep antero mesal fissure; scutellum with a pair of setal warts. Both wings about equal in width, elongate ovoid; jugal lobe well developed; discoidal cell present.

Tibial spurs 2: 2: 2–4.

Larva: antennae usually situated close to the front margin of the head, no further back than midway between the eye and anterior margin; ventral apotome quadrangular, posterolateral margins indistinct. Mesonotum almost entirely sclerotized; metanotum with one or two pairs of small sclerites, antero mesal area with no more than two setae. Abdominal segment 1 with median hump reduced; gills may be present or absent; lateral fringe absent; segment 8 with a lateral row of bifid spicules; segment 9 with dorsal sclerite; anal claw with a single small accessory hook. Larvae construct cylindrical, only slightly curved, tube cases of small stones, sand grains, plant material or spun of silk. They live in fast flowing, clear streams and feed on algae, moss and other plants or plant detritus.

General References

Cowley, D.R. 1978. Studies on the larvae of New Zealand Trichoptera. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 5: 639-750 [Date published 21 Dec. 1978]

Drecktrah, G. 1984. Description of the immature stages of Alloecella grisea Banks (Trichoptera: Helicophidae) and morphological characteristics used to distinguish between larvae of Australian Calocidae, Conoesucidae and Helicophidae. pp. 115-122 in Morse, J.C. (ed.). Proceedings 4th International Symposium on Trichoptera, Clemson, South Carolina 11–16 July, 1983. (Series Entomologica Vol. 30). The Hague : W. Junk.

Jackson, J. 1998. Preliminary Guide to the Identification of Late Instar Larvae of Australian Calocidae, Helicophidae and Conoesucidae (Insecta: Trichoptera). Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Identification Guide No. 16. Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Albury. 81 pp.

Mosely, M.E. & Kimmins, D.E. 1953. The Trichoptera (Caddis-flies) of Australia and New Zealand. London : British Museum (Natural History) 550 pp. [Date published 6 Feb. 1953]

Neboiss, A. 1977. A taxonomic and zoogeographic study of Tasmanian caddis-flies (Insecta: Trichoptera). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 38: 1-208 [Date published 4 Apr. 1977]

Ross, H.H. 1967. The evolution and past dispersal of Trichoptera. Annual Review of Entomology 12: 169-206

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