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

Gomphomacromiidae
Archaeophya

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

Descriptive Features:

  • head short, wide, subrectangular with eyes not protruding laterally
  • frontal plate well developed, with bilobed apex, almost as long as wide, with a small number of palpal dentations
  • prementum ladle-shaped with 2 distinct groups of setae
  • premental ligula with rather wide median lobe
  • labial palps with palpal setae and distal teeth that lack setae
  • movable hook bowed and large
  • antennae 7-segmented
  • pronotum laterally shelf-like
  • wing pads parallel, reaching beyond abdominal segment 6
  • abdomen spinuliform, rather flat, lacking middorsal and lateral spines
  • apex pointed
  • prementum petiolate, moderately long, wide, deep, not flat, 2-3 pairs of primary and 56 pairs of secondary premental setae
  • legs long and strong
  • Total length: 21.5 - 24.0 mm
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    Archaeophya adamsi

    Taxonomic Checklist: Species
    Archaeophya adamsi Fraser,1959
    Archaeophya magnifica Theischinger & Watson, 1978

    Distribution: SE NSW, E Qld

    Sensitivity Rating: none

    Functional Feeding Group: predators

     

    tributary to Mossman River, Qld

    Ecology: Adults are commonly known as 'urflies'.
    Instream habitat: Archaeophya larvae inhabit streams and small rivers, with some species preferring rainforests. They are found on rocks or in litter along the stream margins or in riffle and pool situations.
    Feeding ecology: Larvae are predators.
    Habit:
    Life history:

     

    Information Sources: Theischinger 2001, Houston 1988, Theischinger & Hawking 2006
    Key to Species: Theischinger 2001, Theischinger & Endersby 2009