Major Group: Insecta Order: Trichoptera Family: Plectrotarsidae Genus: Plectrotarsus |
Descriptive Features: head round
antennae located halfway between eye and anterolateral angle of head capsule
pronotum clearly wider than long, posterior half with transverse elliptical bulge on each side, the 2 bulges almost meeting at midline
prosternum with ventral horn, reduced to short projection
meso- and metanotum each with 3 pairs of sclerites, metanotum with anterior medial sclerites each bearing a single stout seta
abdominal segment 1 with 2 pairs of small dorsal sclerites
lateral and dorsal humps well developed
abdominal segments 1-6 bearing gills
abdominal segments 3-8 with lateral fringe of short setae
abdominal segment 8 without lateral row of spicules
anal claw with 2-3 accessory dorsal teeth
Total length: 8 - 12 mm
Case: cylindrical, constructed of concentric rings of plant material, usually somewhat untidy with numerous trailing pieces of vegetable material |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species Plectrotarsus gravenhorsti Kolenati Plectrotarsus minor Mosely (larva unknown) Plectrotarsus tasmanicus Mosely |
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Distribution: S WA, Tas, NSW, Vic
Functional Feeding Group: shredders |
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Dobson Lake (secondary pond) at Mt Field NP, Tas |
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Information Sources: Dean 2000 Key to Species: Dean 2000 |
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