Triplectides Kolenati, 1859

Sganga, Julieta V., Angrisano, Elisa B. & Asaroff, Pablo E., 2013, Preimaginal stages of Triplectides misionensis Holzenthal and Triplectides gracilis (Burmeister) (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae: Triplectidinae), with notes on the cases occupied by these species, Zootaxa 3616 (1) : -

Genus Triplectides Kolenati, 1859

Larva. Head oval, wider posteriorly; antennae long. Chaetotaxy of head typical for family ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Frontoclypeal apotome spatula-like, with a constriction at mid-length. Labrum subtrapezoidal, with anterolateral ends rounded, separated from frontoclypeal apotome by membranous area; labral setae 1–3 peglike; with brush of short, secondary setae on its anteroventral edge ( Figs. 1 , 13 ). Mandibles strong, left one with 6 short teeth surrounding central cavity, right one with 5. Ventral apotome longer than wide, triangular to quadrate, completely separating parietal apotomes ventrally. Pair of small, narrow, sclerites placed parallel to posteroventral edge of parietal apotomes. Labium with submentum small, trapezoidal to oval, fused to anterior end of ventral apotome ( Figs. 2 , 14 ).

Thorax with pro- and mesonota covered completely by pair of sclerites separated mesally by ecdisyal line. Pronotum with anterior edge generally crenulate, anterolateral corners sometimes sharply pointed; posterior edge dark and rounded. Mesonotum with each hemitergite quadrate, with anterior edge longer than posterior edge; with 3 setal areas (sa): sa 1 with 1 long seta, sa 2 with 3 setae (2 anteromesal and 1 posterior) and sa 3 with 5 to 8 setae. Metanotum with 2 or 3 pairs of sclerites: 2 anteromesal, quadrate sclerites each bearing 1 short subapicomesal seta (sa 1); 2 lateral, oval, longitudinal sclerites (sa 3), same length to 2 times longer than sa 1 sclerites, bearing 3 setae; and each sa 2 position with single, long seta without basal sclerite or with 2 posteromesal, subrectangular, transverse sclerites, each bearing 1 long seta ( Fig. 4 , 15 ). Prosternum narrow, membranous, with transverse, mesoposterior sclerite, triangular to rectangular. Mesosternum with 2 long, curved sclerites located at base of each coxa. Metasternum with pair of setal areas at each side of midline, each bearing 6 to 21 long setae, of which variable number of setae each with basal, circular sclerite ( Figs. 6 , 17 ). Foretrocantins large, subrectangular, hornshaped. Forelegs short and robust. Midlegs long (about 2 times as long as forelegs) and slender. Fore- and mid legs each with row of short and pale setae ventrally on tibia and anterior portion of trochanter. Hindlegs long (about 3 times as long as forelegs) and slender; tibiae each 2-segmented ( Figs. 5–9 , 16–20 ).

Abdomen membranous, with lateral fringe on each side of segments III to VII; segment VIII with lateral tubercles anteriorly, followed by long fringe. Segment I with dorsal and lateral humps; dorsal hump with 2 dorsolateral setae (1 at each side); lateral humps each with sclerite slightly sclerotized, quadrate, its anterior edge rounded, with anterior half covered by short, fine setae and long, central seta; with 1 long single seta dorsal of the sclerite and other ventral of it. Gills filamentous, simple or 3-branched, arising from anterior end of each of segments I–VIII in dorsolateral, lateral or ventrolateral position, often absent or reduced in length or number on segments I, VII and VIII ( Figs. 10 , 21 ). One or 2 pairs of dorsal setae on most segments. Segment IX with dorsal sclerite oval, slightly sclerotized, with 3 to 4 pairs of setae on its posterior margin ( Fig. 11 ). Anal prolegs each with lateral sclerite subtrapezoidal, with 1 short mesoposterior and 1 long ventroposterior seta; basal tuft of 3 long setae; ventral sole plate with transverse black stripe and anterodorsal seta; anal claw with single, large, sharply pointed tooth and 2 or 3 very small dorsal accessory hooks and with 4 long dorsal and 3 short ventral setae ( Fig. 12 ).

Pupa. Head with 1–3 pairs of setae on vertex, 4–5 setae on each antennal scape, 2 pairs of long setae on frons and 1 pair below each eye; labrum with 3 long setae at each basolateral corner and 3 groups of 2–3 long setae along its distal margin. Mandibles long, with large apical tooth bearing fine serrations along inner margin and with smaller mesal subapical tooth (Holzenthal 1988, fig. 2C).

Thorax with 3 pairs of dorsal setae on each segment.

Abdomen with 1 pair of dorsolateral, longitudinal sclerotized bars from segment II to VIII. Segment I with spinulose tubercles on posterodorsal angles. Segments III–VI with pair of anterior, subtriangular, dorsal hook plates, each bearing 4 to 6 teeth; segment V with additional posterior pair of subquadrangular plates, each bearing 6 retrorse teeth. Lateral fringes on each side of segments III–VIII, continuing ventrally on last segment. All abdominal terga with dorsal setae. Abdominal gills distributed as in larva, but usually shorter (Holzenthal 1988, fig. 2B). Segment IX with 2 dorsal anterolateral protuberances bearing long setae; its apicolateral portion with 3 to 6 pairs of long setae; anal processes long and slender, each with apex upturned and pointed, bearing small, flat setae and 4 long setae; ventrolateral lobes prominent on mature male pupa, less well developed on female and immature pupae (Holzenthal 1988, figs. 2B, D).

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. Triplectides misionensis larva. 1, head, dorsal; 2, head, ventral; 3, ventral apotome; 4, thorax, dorsal; 5, pronotum, left lateral; 6, thorax, ventral; 7 – 9, left fore-, mid- and hind legs, posterior; 10, habitus, left lateral; 11, segment IX and anal prolegs, dorsal; 12, segment IX and anal prolegs, left lateral.

FIGURES 13 – 22. Triplectides gracilis larva. 13, head, dorsal; 14, head, ventral; 15, thorax, dorsal; 16, pronotum, left lateral; 17, thorax, ventral; 18 – 20, left fore-, mid- and hind legs, posterior; 21, habitus, left lateral; 22, segment IX and anal prolegs, dorsal.