Family PHILORHEITHRIDAE

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Family PHILORHEITHRIDAE

Introduction

Moderately large caddis-flies (wing span 16–35 mm) with irregularly speckled wings, all species volant.

The family is restricted to the Australian and Neotropical Regions. A total of about nine genera and 20 species are known, with five genera and 13 species listed from Australia.

Diagnosis

Adult: ocelli absent. Maxillary palpi 3 to 5-segmented in males, 5-segmented in females; basal segment short with apicomesal expansion bearing a tuft of setae. In most genera males with a pair of pilifers arising above the base of maxillary palpi and held upright in front of the face. Antennae stout, about as long as forewing; ten or fifteen basal segments often excavated laterally, either bearing setae or pectinate. Mesonotum usually with setal warts: if warts absent, then one or several setate punctures present in their place; scutellum usually with a pair of rounded setal warts. Wings elongate, discoidal cells closed in both wings; in forewing R1 joins R2 near apical margin; in resting position wings folded longitudinally.

Tibial spurs 2: 4: 4.

Larva: head with antennae close to anterior margin; ventral apotome triangular, almost entirely separating genae. Pronotum and mesonotum fully sclerotized, prosternum with sclerite; metanotum with two or three pairs of sclerites. Mid-leg with tibia and tarsus fused. Abdominal segment 1 with dorsal and lateral spacing humps; gills branched, lateral fringe present; segment 8 with a row of bifid spicules, dorsal sclerite on segment 9; anal claw with a single accessory hook. Larvae are predatory and construct stout tubular cases of small stone fragments.