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 Major Groups | Insecta (insects) | Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) | Platycnemididae
 

Platycnemididae
Nososticta

Major Group: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Platycnemididae
Genus: Nososticta
This family is represented in Australia by a single genus, Nososticta.

Descriptive Features:

  • premental ligula widely angular
  • 1 pair of premental setae
  • 3 - 4 palpal setae
  • postocular lobes rounded
  • antennal segments 1 and 7 pale, other segments with wide, dark basal or subbasal ring
  • tiny lateral spines on abdominal segments 7 and 8, somewhat more substantial spines on segment 9
  • femora with 4 wide, dark rings
  • tibiae with 3 narrow dark rings
  • median tracheole of lateral caudal gills strongly protruding laterally
  • denodate caudal gills
  • Total length: 15.0 - 18.0 mm
  • Nososticta solida 

    Nososticta solida

    Nososticta solida 

    Nososticta solida male

    Taxonomic Checklist: Species
    (not all nymphs known)
    Nososticta baroalba Watson & Theischinger, 1984
    Nososticta coelestina (Tillyard, 1906)
    Nososticta fraterna (Lieftinck, 1933)
    Nososticta kalumburu Watson & Theischinger, 1984
    Nososticta koolpinyah Watson & Theischinger, 1984
    Nososticta koongarra Watson & Theischinger, 1984
    Nososticta liveringa Watson & Theischinger, 1984
    Nososticta mouldsi Theischinger, 2000
    Nososticta pilbara Watson, 1969
    Nososticta solida (Hagen, 1860)
    Nososticta solitaria (Tillyard, 1906)
    Nososticta taracumbi Watson & Theischinger, 1984

    Distribution: all states 

    Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 4

    Functional Feeding Group: predators

     

    Murray River, Yarrawonga Vic

    Ecology: Adults are commonly known as 'threadtails or pinflies'.
    Instream habitat: Nososticta nymphs occur in streams, rivers and lagoons, often inhabiting the submerged root masses of riparian vegetation or associated stream macrophytes. Some adults prefer shaded habitats, especially closed canopy rainforests.
    Feeding ecology: Nymphs are predators.
    Habit:
    Life history: Females of Nososticta kalumburu lay their eggs in the stems of aquatic macrophytes or the roots of terrestrial plants that hang into the water.

     

    Information Sources: Theischinger & Endersby 2009, Hawking & Theischinger 1999, Watson & Theischinger 1984, Thompson 1990, Theischinger & Hawking 2006
    Key to Species: Theischinger & Endersby 2009