Leptoceridae

Calor, Adolfo R. & Froehlich, Claudio G., 2008, Description of the immature stages of Notalina morsei Holzenthal, 1986 (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae) and an updated key to larvae of Neotropical Leptoceridae genera, Zootaxa 1779, pp. 45-54 : 51-53

Key to Neotropical Leptoceridae genera (larvae)

There are 13 described genera of Leptoceridae ( Achoropsyche Holzenthal , Amazonatolica Holzenthal & Pes , Amphoropsyche Holzenthal , Atanatolica Mosely , Brachysetodes Schmid , Grumichella Müller , Hudsonema Mosely , Nectopsyche Müller , Neoathripsodes Holzenthal , Notalina Mosely , Oecetis McLachlan , Triaenodes McLachlan , and Triplectides Kolenati ) from the Neotropical region, but the larval stages of two monotypic genera, Achoropsyche duodecimpunctata (Navás) and Neoathripsodes anomalus Holzenthal , are still unknown and thus are not included in this key. Leptoceridae Genus A (cited and illustrated by Pes et al. 2005) is not considered in this paper. The simplified figures of the 11 known Neotropical genera, except Notalina , were modified from the original descriptions or keys to show the diagnostic characters.

1. Metanotum with 3 to 6 sclerites ( Fig. 4 A).........................................................................2 ( Triplectidinae )

1’. Metanotum without sclerites (membranous) or with only small sclerotized spots ( Fig. 4 B)........................ ............................................................................................................................................ 7 ( Leptocerinae )

2. Metanotum with 4 to 6 sclerites ( Fig. 4 C)...................................................................................................3

2’. Metanotum with 3 sclerites ( Fig. 4 A)..........................................................................................................4

3. Metanotum with 4 or 5 sclerites; pronotum with anterior edge crenulate ( Fig. 4 D); hind tibia divided ( Fig. 4 F); occupy small hollowed out twig fragments or discarded cases of other caddisflies ........... Triplectides

3’. Metanotum with 6 sclerites ( Fig. 4 C); pronotum with anterior edge smooth; hind tibia undivided; cases built with plant fragments ............................................................................................. Hudsonema flaminii

4. Metanotum with a broad central plate and 2 small lateral sclerites ( Fig. 4 A); cases long, slender, conical or tapered, and built with silk only or silk and sand grains.............................................................................5

4’. Metanotum with 2 broad anterior sclerites and a narrow, transverse, posterior sclerite ( Fig. 4 E); cases not tapered, and built with plant fragments ........................................................................................... Notalina

5. Hind tibia broad, greatly expanded apicoventrally ( Fig. 4 G); cases tapered, light brown, and built of silk. ............................................................................................................................... Amazonatolica hamadae

5’. Hind tibia not expanded as above................................................................................................................6

6. Anal proleg with accessory hook shorter than anal claw ( Fig. 5 A); cases tapered, long, and built with light or dark silk, silk and small sand grains, or sand grains alone, usually without apparent rings .. Atanatolica

6’. Anal proleg with accessory hook and anal claw of the same length ( Fig. 5 B); cases tapered, but usually not as long as above, built with light or dark silk, silk and small sand grains, or sand grains alone, usually with apparent rings ................................................................................................................... Grumichella

7. Maxillary palpi usually extended far beyond anterior edge of labrum ( Fig. 5 C); tarsal claws long and slen- der (especially hind leg claws) .......................................................................................................... Oecetis

7’. Maxillary palpi not longer than other mouthparts; tarsal claws not as long and slender as above..............8

8. Fore tibia and tarsus with subapical, ventral, flattened, peg-like seta ( Fig. 5 D) ................. Amphoropsyche

8’. Fore tibia and tarsus without peg-like seta..................................................................................................9

9. Hind tibia subdivided; lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I oval or tear-drop shaped, bearing a long seta ( Fig. 5 E); cases composed of short pieces of plant material arranged in a spiral. ....... Triaenodes

9’. Hind tibia not subdivided; lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I not tear-drop shaped; cases composed of various materials, but not arranged in a spiral............................................................................10

10. Lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I with round anterior portion and narrow, posterior extension, bearing a seta ( Fig. 5 F); gills present or absent; cases built of various materials; widespread Nectopsyche

10’. Lateral hump of abdominal segment I “check-marked” shaped ( Fig. 5 G); gills absent; cases built of sand grains; restricted to the Chilean subregion. ........................................................................... Brachysetodes

Figures

FIGURE 4. Simplified illustrations of the known Neotropical leptocerid genera. A— Grumichella, metanotum (modified from Holzenthal 1988 b); B— Nectopsyche, metanotum (modified from Wiggins 1996); C— Hudsonema flaminii, metanotum (modified from Holzenthal 1986 b); D— Triplectides, pronotum (modified from Holzenthal 1988 a); E— Notalina, metanotum; F— Triplectides, hind leg (modified from Holzenthal 1988 a); G— Amazonatolica hamadae, hind leg (modified from Holzenthal & Pes 2004).

FIGURE 5. Simplified illustrations of the known Neotropical leptocerid genera. A— Atanatolica, anal proleg (modified from Holzenthal 1988 b); B— Grumichella, anal proleg (modified from Holzenthal 1988 b); C— Oecetis, head, dorsal; D— Amphoropsyche, fore tibia and tarsus (modified from Holzenthal 1986 c); E— Triaenodes, lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I (modified from Holzenthal & Andersen 2004); F— Nectopsyche, lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I (modified from Holzenthal 1995); G— Brachysetodes, lateral hump sclerite of abdominal segment I (modified from Holzenthal 1985).