Author: (Zetterstedt, 1850)
Diagnosis (in part after Hirvenoja, 1973a - in italics)
Exuviae about 5mm long (6.0-6.5mm).
Cephalothorax: Frontal setae less than 2.5µm thick. Dorsocentral setae 1 and 2 of similar thickness, often shorter than seta 3 or 4; one of setae 3 and 4 much smaller than the other. Thorax strongly granulate, obvious granulation reaching the precorneal setae. Thoracic horn smooth, without a narrow basal stalk, its length exceeding 100µm. Thorax extensively granulate. Precorneal setae not on conspicuous mounds.
Abdomen: Hook row II with 90 hooks in about 3 transverse rows. Pedes spurii B absent or only vaguely indicated. Strong shagreen on tergites II-VI, uniformly distributed across entire tergite, only on VI with some smooth lateral patches. Point patches absent on tergites VII and VIII. Dorsal setae I-VIII: 3-4,4,4,5,5,5,5,2; Lateral setae I-VIII: 1,3,3,3,3,3,3,4; Ventral setae I-VIII: 1,3-4,4,4-5,4-5,4-5,4-5,1-2; lateral seta 4 on VIII smaller than the other lateral setae on VIII.
Anal segment: Anal lobes without fringe. Each lobe with 3 anal macrosetae, about half the length of the anal segment.
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Species keys out at Page 908: Orthocladiinae 319 Cricotopus of the Text Key.
Distribution
Holarctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Orthocladiinae).
Ecological notes
Slow-flowing and stagnant water; freshwater and brackish.