Major Group: Insecta
Order: Plecoptera
Family: Austroperlidae |
Descriptive Features: ocelli absent
caudal filaments very short
antennae long, about as long as thorax plus head
pronotum rectangular, corners often extended to sharp points
abdomen cylindrical, dark brown
3 or 5 beaded anal gills
anal gills may be partially or fully contracted so that only the tips are visible or none are visible, respectively,
gills of Acruroperla atra not usually visible AND dorsal tubercules present on abdominal terga
Total length: 10–30 mm |
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Tasmanoperla thalia |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Genera
Acruroperla atra Amal
Austroheptura
Austropentura
Crypturoperla paradoxa Illies
Tasmanoperla |
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Distribution: E Vic, E NSW, E Qld, Tas. All Australian genera are endemic.
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 10
Functional Feeding Group: scrapers |
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Watchbed Creek, Rocky Valley Vic |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Austroperlid nymphs generally occur in slow flowing waters. They are found on logs, rocks, under stones or in gravel with leaf packs.
Feeding ecology: Nymphs are slow moving herbivores and detritivores feeding on rotten wood, detritus, moss or algae.
Habit: Typically Austroperlidae species burrow into old logs, leaving only the end of the abdomen exposed. Crypturoperla paradoxa is an exception, it is restricted to rocks.
Life history: Eggs are white with a sticky coating to adhere to the substrata. The full life cycle takes two to three years. Emergence may not be synchronised and can extend over many months. |
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Information Sources: Hynes 1989, Theischinger 1991, Yule 1997, Hawking & Smith 1997, Michaelis & Yule 1997
Key to Genera: Hynes 1989 (Tas, incomplete), Hynes 1978 (Vic, incomplete), Yule 1997 (NSW, NVic)
Key to Species: Hynes 1989 (Tas, incomplete), Hynes 1978 (Vic, incomplete), Yule 1997 (NSW, NVic) |
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