Caenota Mosely 1953

Shackleton, M. E. & Webb, J. M., 2015, Revision of the genus Caenota Mosely (Trichoptera: Calocidae), with descriptions of 2 new species and the larva of C. nemorosa Neboiss, Zootaxa 3972 (4), pp. 451-481 : 465

Genus Caenota Mosely 1953 (in Mosely & Kimmins 1953)

Type species: Caenota plicata Mosely , by original designation.

Mosely (in Mosely & Kimmins 1953) supplied a description of the genus based on adult males of C. plicata and C. simulans . Neboiss (1977) added to this description and described the females of C. plicata . These descriptions indicated that the maxillary palpi likely each consists of 3 segments. After clearing in potassium hydroxide and viewing under greater magnification than that which would have been available to Mosely and Kimmins, we conclude that the maxillary palpi have 5 segments, the 3rd and 4th being greatly reduced. The inclusions of C. cudonis and C. equustagna in the genus do not alter previous diagnoses except that, in these species, the fold in each posterior wing is greatly reduced.

Caenota larvae can be distinguished from other Calocidae by the presence of a dark sclerotised ridge medially on the metanotum and a case composed of leaf panels arranged in 2 dorsal and 2 ventral rows ( Jackson 1998; Shackleton 2013). There are few differences among the larvae of C. plicata , C. nemorosa , C. cudonis , and C. equustagna , the distinguishing features being the shape of the lateral margins of the anterior section of the frontoclypeus and the presence or absence of a row of setae along the dorsal margin of each foretrochantin.

Revised generic description. Adult. Head with eyes positioned near anterolateral corners of head capsule; posterior setal warts large in females, absent in males. Antennae each with scape normal in females, in males with either small or large projection on anterior surface and large membranous projection on posterior surface. Maxillary palpi each 5-segmented, normal in females, irregular in males with first 2 segments expanded, mesal surface with dense pale or dark, fine setae, segments III and IV reduced, segment V either reduced or elongate. Labial palpi each 3-segmented. Wing venation similar in male and female; each forewing with discoidal cell present, forks I, II, III, and V present; each hind wing without discoidal cell, vein R1 parallel to Sc until just beyond midpoint of wing, then fusing for short distance before separating to approach wing margin.

Pupa. Head with mid dorsal area having 2 dark setae; frons with pair of 2 dark setae on anterolateral corners; labrum as wide as long, lateral margins with distally projected lobe at about 1/3rd length from base, anterior margin angular or convex; mandibles each either with or without small tooth, with pair of dark setae near base of lateral margin; maxillary palpi of male broad and rounded basally, each abruptly constricted and tapering to long point, unmodified in female; antennae as long as body, expanded basally in male. Abdomen with paired anterodorsal hookplates on segments III to VI; posterodorsal hookplates on segment V only; lateral abdominal fringe extending on each side from anterolateral margin of segment VI to anterolateral margin of segment VIII, small tuft on anterolateral margin of segment V; terminal processes slender, apically acute and turned outward, with long dark setae. Pupal case similar to larval case, posterior and anterior apertures narrow.

Larva. Head dark brown except for pale area on each gena posterior to ventral apotome; frontoclypeus widening abruptly at about mid distance, with paired setae 6 either close to constriction or halfway between constriction and anterior margin, 2 primary setae at each anterolateral corner, 1 pale secondary seta on each lateral margin of anterior half about mid length directed mesad. Antennae situated close to eye. Pronotum dark brown; anterior margin with 2 distinct types of setae, 1 type more slender, bent mesad and sometimes lighter in colour; dorsum with long dark setae in anterior half. Mesonotum pale, with slightly darker muscle scars in anterior half, around 25 dark setae in each anterolateral corner; each sclerite with 4 to 6 long dark setae subapically along anterior margin, 1 seta posterior to these and nearer to the median ecdysial line, 2 long and 1 or 2 short setae at approximately mid sclerite. Metanotum pale, scleritisation weak and restricted to anterior half, medial line of each sclerite with darkly pigmented ridge; each setal area 1 (sa 1) with about 5 setae, each setal area 2 (sa 2) with 1 seta, each setal area 3 (sa 3) with 2 long setae and 2 or 3 smaller setae. Abdomen having segment I lateral humps without sclerites; abdominal gills present on segments II and III, absent or present on segments I and IV; tergite IX with 4 long and 6 short setae; anal lateral sclerites each with about 12–15 long dark setae along posterior margin; abdominal claws each with 1 accessory tooth. Case composed of panels of plant material arranged in 2 rows dorsally and 2 rows ventrally.