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Family PSYCHOMYIIDAE

Introduction

The family Psychomyiidae was recorded from Australia by Mosely & Kimmins (1953) for Ecnomus McLachlan and Ecnomina Kimmins, which were sebsequently removed to Ecnomidae by Neboiss (1977). In 1990, however, Neboiss re-established Psychomyiidae in Australia, with two genera, Tinodes Curtis and Zelandoptila Tillyard, each with one species.

In Australia, Tinodes is recorded from the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory, and Zelandoptila from north-eastern Queensland. Tinodes is also known from New Guinea (Kimmins 1962) and Zelandoptila from New Zealand.

The larva, pupa and female of Tinodes radona Neboiss were described by Wells (1995), from Kakadu National Park, where the larvae live in their long silken tubes above the water level on rocks in small clean streams or on rocks in the splash zone of waterfalls or on cascades. Cartwright (1997) provided a guide to late instar larvae.

 

Diagnosis

Ocelli absent. Maxilliary palpi 5-segmented in both sexes (6-segmented in Paludinellinae, not known in Australia); segment 1 short, segment 2 about as long as or longer than segment 1, segment 3 as long as segment 2 or segments 1 and 2 together, never inserted before the apex of segment 2, segment 4 as long as or shorter than segment 3, segment 5 about as long as segments 3 and 4 together, annulate, flexible. Antennae moderately robust, not exceeding the length of the forewing, scape shorter than head, only slightly thicker than following segments. Mesoscutum with pair of ovoid warts, scutellum with setal warts either separate or fused. In some genera females with mid-legs dilated. Claws normal. Spurs 2:4:4 (some genera may be 1:2:4 or 1:4:4).

Wings slender, rounded or tapered apically. Forewings fork 1 absent, discoidal cell short, median cell usually closed, thyridial cell very small, situated close to wing base and more or less separated from the base of median cell. Hind wing narow, lanceolate, costal margin more or less produced anteriorly at middle, fork 1 absent, forks 2, 3 and 5 usually present, fork 3 sometimes absent, discoidal cell open. (Diagnosis after Neboiss 1990).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
11-Oct-2012 11-Oct-2012 MOVED
01-Nov-2011 01-Nov-2011 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)