Family LEPTOCERIDAE

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Family LEPTOCERIDAE

Introduction

Members of this family are easily recognised by their long, slender wings (wing span 10–40 mm) and long filiform antennae. Most are rather large with wing span reaching up to 40 mm. A number of species are active during day time and can be seen flying along the water's edge among vegetation.

The family is very common and known from all faunal regions. It contains about 50 genera and more than 800 species and is represented in Australia by 15 genera and 144 species. St Clair has provided valuable insight into the morphology, behaviour and ecology of larvae of Australian Leproceridae. Her work includes descriptions of larvae of many species, keys to genera and species, and information on larval habitats (St Clair 1994a), dietary and life history studies (St Clair 1993, 1994b) and a preliminary guides to larvae (St Clair 2000).

Diagnosis

Adult: ocelli absent. Maxillary palpi long, 5-segmented, the apical segment incompletely sclerotized, flexible but not annulate, segment 2 the longest. Antennae usually two to three times longer than the forewing, in males longer than in females; basal segment bulbous rarely longer than the head. Mesoscutum elongate, without setal warts, but instead with two longitudinal bands of setiferous punctures; scutellum is small with a few setiferous punctures. Forewings are long and narrow, discoidal cell present and closed, median cell absent; hindwings are either narrow and acute apically, or considerably expanded, sometimes with long fringe.

Tibial spurs 0–2: 2: 2–4.

Larva: distinguished by the slender legs with divided femur on hind leg and by the long antennae usually longer than 1/5 the width of the anterior margin of frontoclypeal apotome, and arising near the base of mandibles, except in the genus Triplexa, in which the antennae are shorter than 1/5 the width of the anterior margin and located half way between the base of the mandible and the eye; ventral apotome quadrate, entirely separating the genae, however, if apotome is triangular, genae are not separated; mesonotal plates only lightly sclerotized; metanotum membranous; hindlegs much longer than others. Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal and lateral spacing humps; abdominal gills either single or branched; lateral setal fringe usually present; segment 8 with a row of bifid spicules.

Larvae construct tubular cases of mineral and plant material arranged in a great variety of ways and some use hollowed pieces of wood or grass stems. The family contains both omnivorous and predatory species. Habitat ranges from swift mountain streams to temporary water and saline lakes.