Apataniana vardusia Malicky, 1992

Waringer, Johann & Malicky, Hans, 2016, The larvae of the European species of genus Apataniana Mosely, 1936 (Trichoptera, Apataniidae): descriptions, key and ecology, ZooKeys 586, pp. 121-134 : 126

Taxon classification Animalia Trichoptera Apataniidae

Apataniana vardusia Malicky, 1992

Description of the 5th instar larva

(all morphological characters identical to those of Apataniana stropones except as noted below). Diagnosis. Setal transversal band at 1st abdominal dorsum interrupted at center; 2nd tarsal claw longer than half tarsal length; central submentum parallel-sided.

Biometry. Body length of 5th instar larvae ranging from 4.4 to 5.3 mm, head width from 0.70 to 0.73 mm (n= 3).

Head. Head medium brown (Fig. 22). Submentum narrower than in Apataniana stropones , wedge-shaped, parallel-sided at center (Fig. 23); light to yellowish brown, with medium brown anterior, broadened section and pale posterior tip. Postgenal suture approximately 30% of apotome length (Fig. 23).

Thorax. Pronotal surface medium brown, with pale, small, roundish muscle attachment spots. In addition to dense cover of pale, translucent, tapering setae with flexuous tips 20-30 longer setae present on each pronotal half. Pentangular prosternite pale, with medium brown posterior transverse band; lateral sclerites indistinct. Mesonotum medium brown, posterolateral corners black; near anteromedian corner of this black spot with ear-like porus (Fig. 24). Lateral sclerites with anterior groups of approximately 10 setae per sclerite; anterior and posterior metanotal sclerites completely lacking and replaced by groups of setae: 5-10 at each anterior and 5-10 at each posterior metanotal position (Fig. 25). Mid tarsal claw longer than half tarsal length (Fig. 26).

Abdomen. Setal transversal band at 1st abdominal dorsum interrupted at center, consisting of 30-40 setae (Fig. 25); setal group dorsal of lateral protuberance with 4-7 setae each. Ventral section of lateral protuberances and 1st abdominal sternum with continuous field of setae with basal sclerites minute and inconspicuous; total setal number is 110-120. 8th abdominal dorsum with 18-20 posterodorsal setae. Light brown sclerite on 9th abdominal segment with 22-34 setae, 6 long and the remainder short to medium in length.

Case. Fifth instar larval case 6.3-6.4 mm long (n= 3), curved, tapering posteriorly (width at anterior opening 2.4-2.5 mm and at posterior opening 1.3-1.4 mm).