Family GRIPOPTERYGIDAE

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Family GRIPOPTERYGIDAE

Compiler and date details

Frances B. Michaelis and Cathy Yule; updated by Andrew A. Calder, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia

Introduction

The Gripopterygidae is the dominant stonefly family in Australia. It also occurs in New Zealand and the mountainous regions of South America. At present 12 of the 39 described genera are recognised from Australia, all endemic. In Australia 134 species have been described, but fewer than half of the nymphs are known and information on the eggs is even more scarce. Three undescribed species, of Cardioperla, Neboissoperla and Riekoperla, have been recorded from Tasmania by Hynes (pers. comm.).

The Gripopterygidae, particularly those in the genus Dinotoperla, inhabit a wide range of freshwater environments. In general, adult emergence is synchronised and usually occurs between dusk and midnight onto boulders, logs or aquatic vegetation. Gripopterygid nymphs are herbivore-detritivores, although late instar Illiesoperla and Eunotoperla nymphs are carnivorous. Adults have been observed feeding on bark and lichen. An undescribed species of Neboissoperla was reported by Hynes (1982) from Tasmania.

Oviposition has rarely been observed in gripopterygids, although females are often collected with eggs extruded at the tip of their abdomen. It appears that they glide down to the surface of the water where the eggs are washed off to fall amongst the substrate.

The family appears to be monophyletic based on the molecular phylogeny of Letsch et al. (2021).

Diagnosis

Adults: most species are small to medium in size (body length 5–25 mm), females larger than males. Leptoperla cacuminis is completely apterous, Riekoperla darlingtoni almost apterous, while Leptoperla kimminsi, Leptoperla kallistae and Riekoperla intermedia are brachypterous. Short winged individuals and populations of Leptoperla varia, Riekoperla isosceles, Riekoperla cornuta, Dinotoperla hirsuta and Eunotoperla kershawi have also been recorded. Forewings: irregular crossveins in distal half; M forked; 3 anal veins present with thickened crossvein between 1A and 2A. Hindwings: M3+4, near its separation from M1+2, fused with Cu1 for part or whole of remainder of length; anal fan large, generally with six simple veins; 6A may be fused with hind margin of wing.

Genitalia. Male: epiproct usually hookshaped; paraprocts always present and usually curved. Female: subgenital plate on 8th segment variably sclerotized, often U or V shaped.
Nymphs: most species are small to medium in size (final instars about 5–20 mm long). Tuft of cylindrical, filamentous gills between cerci which may contract so that only the tips are visible. Cerci usually long.

Eggs: those of some species are spherical, while others are more elaborate, being somewhat flattened, often with ridges around their perimeter. Aeropyles and micropyles are present in the eggs of several species.