Key to Genera of Australian Leptoceridae (Trichoptera) Larvae Acknowledgements Andrew Cranston and Ben Gunn for compiling the key and attaching character state images. References St Clair, R. (1988) The adult and immatures of Russobex gen. nov., a new monotypic genus from Victoria (Trichoptera : Leptoceridae). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 100: 47-52. St…
Key to Families of Australian Trichoptera Larvae Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are small, moth-like insects with winged adults and aquatic larvae. The larvae differ from those of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) in having only one pair of abdominal prolegs (on segment 10) rather than five (on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10) Many trichopteran larvae build moveable…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Diptera Larvae Diptera comprises the true flies, that is those flies in which the adult has only one pair of wings, situated on the meso- (second) thoracic segment. The “wings” of the third (meta-) thoracic segment are modified as balancers of halteres. The name “fly” is attached to the…
Key to Families of Adult Australian Aquatic Coleoptera (Beetles) Coleoptera (beetles) is the most speciose of all the insect orders. The majority of the approximately 120 families known from Australia are terrestrial but around 14 are wholly aquatic or strongly associated with water and a further 5 include some aquatic or semi-aquatic species. This key…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Coleoptera, Megaloptera and Mecoptera Larvae Coleoptera The Coleoptera (beetles) is the most speciose of all the insect orders with over 5,000 aquatic species. The majority of the approximately 120 families known from Australia are terrestrial but around 10 families are exclusively aquatic as larva and adult, an additional few…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Neuroptera & Megaloptera Larvae These two closely related orders are sometimes placed as one. We follow The Insects of Australia by keeping the orders separate but for convenience present them in a single key. Neuroptera comprises about 18 families worldwide (14 in Australia) but the aquatic component is restricted…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Hemiptera (True-bugs) The Hemiptera (true bugs) are a widespread and speciose order of insects. The large terrestrial element includes leafhoppers, cicadas, aphids, scale insects, and a variety of herbacious and predatory bugs. The smaller aquatic element includes water striders, water boatmen, backswimmers, water scorpions and a range of lesser-known…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Plecoptera Larvae This is a small order of aquatic insects comprising about 2000 species worldwide. There are 15 recognised families but only four occur in Australia. Of the 26 Australian genera 24 are endemic and 2 are shared with New Zealand, but at species level all 196 Australian species…
Key to Families of Australian Aquatic Odonate Larvae Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) occur in all types of inland water except saline lakes. The adults are winged and can be found near their breeding sites or else (in some species) far from water. The larvae, with one or two exceptions, are fully aquatic. The larval stage…
Key to Species of Australian Caenidae (Ephemeroptera) Larvae (Ephemeroptera) Larvae Acknowledgements Andrew Cranston and Ben Gunn for compiling the key and attaching character state images. References Dean, J. C. and Suter, P. J. (1996) Mayfly Nymphs of Australia: A Guide to Genera. Co-operative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, Thurgoona. Suter, P. J. (1999) Illustrated Key…