Antarctoperlinae Enderlein, 1909

McLellan, Ian D. & Zwick, Peter, 2007, New Species Of And Keys To South American Gripopterygidae (Plecoptera), Illiesia 3 (4), pp. 20-42 : 27

Antarctoperlinae Enderlein, 1909

This subfamily is well supported, also by larval characters. These include the very rounded massive head with a frontal depression, ring ‐ shaped abdominal segments lacking a soft pleural area, the long parallel ‐ sided posteriorly extended segment X which covers the retracted gills and the paraprocts from above, and the modified cerci. The cerci are short and thin, the apical section is thread ‐ like. The terrestrial Megandiperla with its very short but thick conical cerci is the only exception. Larvae and adults lack tibial spurs. However, larvae of some other South American taxa also lack them (see the key). Additional characters characteristic of larvae of Antarctoperlinae but not shared by all of them are the thickened and often very pilose base of antennal flagellum, prominent or extended pronotal corners, paired dorsal processes on head, pronotum and/or abdomen, and camouflage of detritus containing fine sand firmly attached to body hairs.

Unassociated Larvae

In the Flint collection there are Antarctoperlinae larvae without associated adults. Several are last instar specimens but none is sufficiently mature to dissect the pharate adult. These larvae are described below, under informal designations.