Home     
 

Print This Page

 Major Groups | Insecta (insects) | Trichoptera (caddisflies) | Oeconesidae
 

Oeconesidae
Tascuna ignota

Major Group: Insecta
Order: Trichoptera
Family: Oeconesidae
Genus: Tascuna
Species: ignota
This family is represented in Australia by a single species, Tascuna ignota Neboiss.

Descriptive Features:

  • head flat and with a ridge (carina)
  • antennae very short, close to the eye
  • ventral apotome completely dividing the head ventrally
  • pronotum with transverse lateral grooves, prosternum without a spine-like process
  • mesosternum with 6 sclerites, mesonotum with 6 sclerites
  • metanotum without setae
  • abdominal segment 1 with 6 setae ventrally
  • abdominal gills present as single filaments
  • rows of spicules laterally on abdominal segments 3-8
  • Total length: up to 20 mm
  • Case: Made from irregular pieces of plant material.
  •  

    Tascuna ignota

    Taxonomic Checklist:
    Tascuna ignota
    Neboiss, 1975 

    Distribution: Tas

    Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 8

    Functional Feeding Group: shredders

     

    Little Navarre River, Tas

    Ecology: Instream habitat: Tascuna ignota larvae are not often collected. They occur in small fast flowing mountain streams.
    Feeding ecology: Larvae are detritivores.
    Habit: Commonly known as ‘messy caddis’ larvae construct cases that are untidy from fragments of leaves and vegetable matter.
    Life history: Biological information for Australian Tascuna ignota is not known.

     

    Information Sources: St Clair 2000a, Dean et al 2004, Neboiss 1988, 2003