Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 57(1): 133-142 (1998)
TWO NEW SPECIES OF CONOESUCUS MOSELY FROM TASMANIA
(TRICHOPTERA: CONOESUCIDAE)
J. E. Jackson
Zoology Department, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-05, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
(
[email protected])
Abstract
Jackson, J.E., 1998. Two new species of Conoesucus Mosely from Tasmania (Trichoptera:
Conoesucidae). Memoirs of the Museum of Victoria 57(1): 133-142.
Adults, pupae and larvae are described and illustrated for Conoesucus adiastolus sp. nov.
and Conoesucus notialis sp. nov. from Tasmania. The first diagnoses of the pupae and larvae
of Conoesucidae and Conoesucus are given.
Introduction
The Conoesucidae, now with 23 described
Australian species, is the second most diverse of
the case-making Trichoptera families in
Australia, after the Leptoceridae. In addition,
taxonomic work on larvae (Jackson, 1988)
indicates that there are about 16 undescribed
species in southeastern Australia (no
further undescribed conoesucids are known from
Tasmania). Conoesucid larvae are common in
many lotic habitats in southeastern Australia.
Conoesucidae also occur in New Zealand and the
immatures of New Zealand species have been
described by Cowley (1975, 1976, 1978).
The descriptions given here of two new
Tasmanian species include the first larval and
pupal descriptions of Australian Conoesucidae.
Chromosome number and information on testis
structure obtained during a chromosome study
(Jackson, 1991) are included in diagnoses.
Materials and Methods
Collecting. Larvae and pupae were collected by
hand picking from various substrates (rocks,
wood, plants). Specimens required for rearing
were transported in jars of shallow water on ice;
others were preserved in 70% ethanol. Adults
were collected from riparian vegetation with a
sweep net during the day; at night adults were
collected from a sheet hung behind a mercury
vapour lamp, or in automatic UV light traps.
Specimens were preserved immediately in 70%
ethanol. All material was collected by the author
unless otherwise stated. Type material and
material examined is lodged in the Museum of
Victoria (NMV). Grid references given with
locality data refer to the Tasmap 1:100,000 map
series (Lands Dept, Hobart).
Rearing of immatures. Larvae or pupae
were reared to adults in small plastic containers
with shallow, aerated tap or stream water
at 10-15°C. Stones, sand, leaves, wood and/or
algae were provided as food, case material and
pupation sites. Transparent perforated lids pre-
vented the escape of emerged adults. Association
of larva with adult using metamorphotypes
collected from the field was also possible, as
conoesucids retain larval sclerites within the
pupal case.
Electrophoresis. Standard methods of allozyme
electrophoresis (Richardson et al., 1986) were
used to confirm that Conoesucus adiastolus
sp. nov. was distinct from the morphologically
similar C. brontensis Neboiss. The criterion used
to indicate specific status was a minimum of 15%
of loci with fixed differences between allopatric
populations (Richardson et al., 1986).
Preparation, drawing and description. Descrip-
tions and figures are of late instar larvae. Whole
larvae and adult abdomens were prepared
for microscopic examination by clearing in
hot 5% KOH for about 10 minutes (after punctur-
ing larval abdomens), rinsing in glacial acetic
acid, then transferring to glycerol. Specimens
were mounted in glycerol; cleared material was
subsequently stored in glycerol. To clarify the
structure of the genitalia and the larval abdominal
cuticle, a few specimens of each series were
stained temporarily by adding a few drops of acid
fuchsin to the acetic acid rinse. Untreated
material was also examined, and larval sclerites
from pupal cases often showed setal and scar
patterns more clearly than other material.
Drawings of pupae were made from exuviae of
reared specimens; whole specimens were also
examined. Wings to be drawn were removed
from the adult, denuded with a fine paint brush.
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