Code QT029999

Small Trichoptera restricted to clear, cold, fast-flowing streams. The larvae live in dome-shaped cases made of sand grains and small stones, attached to rocks away from the full force of the stream. These cases are flat beneath and convex above.

The full-grown larva is much like a small Hydrobiosidae: thin, pale in colour with only the head, pronotum and parts of the terminal segments sclerotised. However, the fore femora are not expanded and the claws have 1-2 accessory hooks.

The glossosomatids are world-wide in distribution. In our region, they are restricted to New Guinea and eastern Australia including Tasmania and absent from Western Australia and New Zealand. All belong to the one genus Agapetis.

References:

Cartwright, D.I. and Dean, J.C. (1982) A key to the Victorian genera of free-living and retreat-making caddis-fly larvae (Insecta: Trichoptera). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 43 : 1-13.

Neboiss, A. (1991) Trichoptera. pp. 787-816. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia . Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.

Neboiss, A. (1992) Illustrated keys to the families and genera of Australian Trichoptera. 1. Adults. Australian Society for Limnology Special Publication 9. pp. 87.