Family SIALIDAE Leach in Brewster, 1815

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Introduction

This family is distinguished from the Corydalidae by the absence in the adults of ocelli and a prominently bilobed 4th tarsal segment; the larvae have only seven pairs of lateral abdominal gills and the apex of the abdomen drawn out into a termina1 filament. The four Australian species are rather small (length of forewing no more than 15 mm).

The distribution of the family is world wide with about 60 described species. This probably includes a number of synonyms, but new discoveries may be expected. The Australian fauna represents 5–10% of the world fauna. A detailed taxonomic study of the family on a world wide base is urgently needed in order to clarify the status of most genera and of many species.

Intersexual communication by vibration signals has been described for sialids. The larvae of one Australian species have been found in silty, slow-flowing sections of coastal streams.

General References

Aspöck, H., Aspöck, U. & Hölzel, H. (unter Mitarbeit von H. Rausch) 1980. Die Neuropteren Europas: eine zusammenfassende Darstellung der Systematik, Ökologie und Chorologie der Neuropteroidea (Megaloptera, Raphidioptera, Plannipennia) Europas. Krefeld : Geocke & Evers Vol. 1 495 pp., Vol. 2, 355 pp.

Rupprecht, R. 1975. Die Kommunikation von Sialis (Megaloptera) durch Vibratinssignale. Journal of Insect Physiology 21: 305-320

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