Family PLECTROTARSIDAE

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

Small to medium sized caddis-flies (wing span 10–22 mm), found flying during daytime in bright sunshine, in a moth-like manner around flowering shrubs (Leptospermum, Melaleuca and others).

The family contains three genera and five species, all restricted to Australia. Neboiss (1987) commented on implications of characteristics of immatures of Plectrotarsus gravenhorsti Kolenati for understanding of the family relationships. Dean (2000) provided preliminary keys for identification of late instar larvae.

Diagnosis

Adult: ocelli present. Maxillary palpi 3-segmented in male, 5-segmented in female. Antennae stout, about as long as forewing. Mouthparts either normal or forming an elongate proboscis in some species. Mesoscutum with bands of setiferous punctures and posteriorly, on either side of scutellum, a small rounded group of setiferous punctures; scutellum with setal warts connected mesally, elongate or rounded. Wings broad, rounded apically and densely pubescent; discoidal cell present, small; at the base of the hindwing there are several strong frenular bristles, vein R1 joins R2 near the wing margin.

Tibial spurs 1–2: 2–4: 4.

Larva: head only slightly longer than wide, antenna about midway between eye and anterolateral margin of the head capsule; ventral apotome broadly triangular, lateral margins distinctly convex, entirely separating genae. Pronotum short with transverse elliptic bulge; prosternal horn present, rather small, pale and membranous; mesonotum and metanotum each with three pairs of sclerites, those on metanotum rather indistinct; legs stout. Abdominal gills single or branched; lateral setal fringe present; segment 8 without lateral row of bifid spicules, segment 9 with dorsal sclerite; anal claws with two accessory hooks. Larvae construct rather untidy, tubular cases from short irregularly arranged pieces of cut vegetation and inhabit shallow, vegetation rich, lakes and swamps.

General References

Dean, J.C. 2000. Preliminary Keys for the Identification of Australian Caddisfly Larvae of the Families Antipodoeciidae, Atriplectididae, Limnephilidae and Plectrotarsidae. Identification Guide No. 31. Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Albury. 16 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]

Neboiss, A. 1987. Immature stages of Plectrotarsus gravenhorsti Kolenati (Trichoptera: Plectrotarsidae) and comments on likely family relationships. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 99: 135-140

History of changes