Limnophyes punctipennis

Author: (Goetghebuer, 1921)

Diagnosis
Exuviae 1.8-2.7mm long (m=2.4mm, n=11).
Cephalothorax: Thoracic horn reduced to a small tubercle. Precorneal setae small. Thorax more or less smooth.
Abdomen: Anterior points of tergites (excluding those on the anterior transverse apodemes) at most indistinctly arranged in transverse rows. Tergites I(II)-VIII with at least the posterior margin armed with long narrow spines. Posterior long spines IV 64-78 (m=71, n=10), VI 46-61 (m=55, n=10). Longest spine IV 43-50µm long (m=46µm, n=11), VI 45-50µm long (m=48µm, n=11). Conjunctives II/III-VI/VII armed with small points, most of the points of the paratergites are similar in size to those of the conjunctives, VII/VIII unarmed. Pedes spurii A absent. Lateral setae IV 95-130µm long (m=112µm, n=11). Four long lateral setae on tergite VIII, the fourth absent or reduced to a small hair, 0-37µm long (n=11).
Anal segment: Anal lobes smooth, without fringe. Anal macrosetae of anal lobes long, 0.61-1.0x length of the anal lobe (m=0.86, n=11), setae thin and usually curved.
Remark: Parthenogenetic: males unknown.
(Linked adult male: Langton and Pinder, 2003a)

Species keys out at Page 767: Orthocladiinae 179 Limnophyes of the Text Key.

Distribution
Widespread in W Europe.

Ecological notes
Larvae feeding on drowned grass leaves at the edge of a ditch.

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