Author: Andersen, 1937
Diagnosis (in part after Saether, 1990a - in italics)
Exuviae 2.3-3.0mm long (m=2.65mm, n=22).
Cephalothorax: Frontal setae on frontal apodeme, 68µm long. Ocular field with 1 vertical and 1-2 postorbitals. Thoracic horn reduced to a small tubercle. Precorneal tubercle present, 3 fine and short precorneals. 2 Median and 1 lateral, fine antepronotals. 4 Dorsocentrals, setal marks of setae 2 and 3 separated by 2-13µm. Thorax and wing sheaths smooth.
Abdomen: Tergite I with a few anterior and a few postero-median points; II-VIII with extensive shagreen. Tergites II-VIII with posterior transverse rows of translucent or slightly darkened elongate spines. Posterior long spines IV 40-61 (m=52, n=14), VI 28-49 (m=40, n=16). Longest spine IV 50-65µm long (m=58µm, n=18), VI 47-68µm long (m=54µm, n=17). Seta D3 of tergite VII usually conspicuous, about 100µm long. Paratergite IV armed with small points. Pedes spurii Aand B absent. Sternite I without shagreen, II-III apparently bare; IV-VIII with very few, weak median points. Lateral setae of segment IV 100-163µm long (m=130µm, n=17). Segment VIII with 5 long lateral setae, fourth seta 67-150µm long (n=10).
Anal segment: Armament of tergite IX composed of irregularly arranged groups of 2 to 5 large points giving an "untidy" appearance. Anal lobes smooth, somewhat rectangular. Anal macrosetae220-300µm long, 0.96-1.5x length of the anal lobe (m=1.3, n=18); setae thin and usually curved. Male genital sheaths overreaching anal lobe by 41-45µm, female 45µm short of apex.
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)
Species keys out at Page 756: Orthocladiinae 168 Limnophyes of the Text Key.
Distribution
Holarctic species: widespread in Europe.
(For more information see module IdentifyIt – file: Orthocladiinae).
Ecological notes
Larvae in moss on damp soil. (Species probably truly aquatic - Saether, 1990a.)