Code QE099999

An unusual mayfly from tropical rivers in north Queensland. The mesonotum forms a carapace over the thorax and abdomen as far as segment 7 so that the nymph superficially resembles a notostracan Crustacea. There is one genus, Prosopistoma , which is widely distributed from Africa and Europe to Papua New Guinea, and one Australian species, currently undescribed. The genus can be common in riffles and fast-flowing waters of tropical streams in south-east Asia, including Borneo. Predatory on chironomid larvae (Cathy Yule, pers. comm.).

Reference:

Dean, J.C. (1996) Prosopistomatidae. p. 76. In: Dean, J.C. and Suter, P.J. Mayfly Nymphs of Australia. A guide to Genera. Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Identification Guide No. 7., Albury, NSW.