Ecnomidae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ecnomidae Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
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| Male Darternomina | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Trichoptera |
| Superfamily: | Hydropsychoidea |
| Family: | Ecnomidae Ulmer, 1903 |
| Genera | |
The Ecnomidae are a family of caddisflies comprising 9 genera with a total of 375 species.
The Ecnomidae have a Gondwanan distribution, except one genus, which also is present in Oriental and Palearctic regions.
Morphology
The adult is a mostly small to medium-sized caddisfly with a wingspan of 6–18 mm (0.24–0.71 in), with dull grayish-brown mottled wings. Ocelli are absent. The maxillary palp is five-segmented. The apical segment is flexible. The antennae are, at most, as long as the forewing. Forewing R1 is usually forked at the apex; the discoidal and median cells present and closed. The female abdomen terminates either flat out or with an elongated ovipositor.
The larva is small to medium-sized 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long. The head and all thoracic nota are sclerotised. The prolegs on the abdomen are highly formed with large anal claws terminal.
Behavior and ecology
The Ecnomidae larval stage, like most trichoptera larvae, is spent completely in fresh water. They are predatory, but some genera feed also on algae and detritus. They construct fixed tubes, retreats of silk, on logs or rocks. Permanent ponds and lakes or slower-flowing waters is suitable habitat for Ecnomidae larvae.
