New Caledonian Hydroptilidae (Trichoptera), with new records, descriptions of larvae and a new species

Review of New Caledonian species of Oxyethira Eaton, with description of 17 new species, and new records for Hydroptila Dalman and Hellyethira Neboiss (Trichoptera, Hydroptilidae)

“…The study is based for the greater part on collections of Hydroptilidae made by members of the Swedish Museum of Natural History and deals primarily with the genus Oxyethira . It also presents new records for the previously reported (Wells 1995) sole New Caledonian representatives of two other hydroptilid genera, Hydroptila losida Mosely, 1953 and Hellyethira malleoforma Wells, 1979, both common in eastern Australia.…”

The New Caledonian genus Caledonotrichia Sykora (Trichoptera, Insecta) reviewed, with descriptions of 6 new species

“…The vents may be an adaptation that, together with undulations of the body, assists water circulation in the case and thus improve ventilation. Small dorsal openings are seen also in the dome-shaped cases of Caledonotrichia illiesi (Wells 1995: figs 11, 12), possibly serving a similar function for their inhabitants.…”

“…In 1989, 2 additional species of Caledonotrichia were described by Kelley: Caledonotrichia charadra Kelley, 1989, smallish and rather similar to Caledonotrichia minor , and a distinctive, much larger-bodied species, Caledonotrichia extensa Kelley, 1989. Next, several larvae were described by Wells (1995): a curious early instar larva with greatly modified head setae — cephalic ‘horns’, and mature larvae with dome-shaped cases, both attributed to Caledonotrichia illiesi , as well as an unassociated early larva without cephalic horns. Oláh & Johanson (2010) added a fifth species, Caledonotrichia nyurga Oláh & Johanson, 2010.…”

“…Mary’s surveys concentrated on aquatic stages and, as few pharate adults were among the hydroptilids collected, most specimens were identifiable only to genus. This was unfortunate since in addition to the fixed dome-shaped cases of the form described by Wells (1995), the samples included further unusual larval cases, identifiable as those of species of Caledonotrichia . These are purse-shaped and cylindrical cases constructed of 2 equal valves, with distinct dorsal and ventral sides, some with dorsal vents.…”

“…A sister group relationship between Caledonotrichia and the Australian Maydenoptila was postulated by Wells (1995). Both have the above plesiomorphic features and their males have bilobed gonopods, with one lobe of the pair with a mesal process of some kind; in both the phallic apparatus varies in form between species, some with one or more associated parameres, others simple; and most species of Maydenoptila and at least three of Caledonotrichia have abdominal segment IX strongly triangular in ventral view.…”