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The larva of Annitella apfelbecki Klapalek, 1899 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae)

In this poster presentation, the hitherto unknown larva of Annitella apfelbecki (Klapalek, 1899) is described and discussed in the context of contemporary Limnephilidae keys where Annitella apfelbecki keys out together with Melampophylax nepos and M. mucoreus. Separation is possible due to biogeography (A. apfelbecki is restricted to ecoregion 5: Dinaric Western Balkan where the other two species are lacking) and due to the fact that A. apfelbecki has 4 posterodorsal setae on abdominal segment 7, whereas only two are present in M. nepos and M. mucoreus. In addition, leg lengths vary greatly in the three species: the longest legs are present in M. mucoreus (hind tarsus length of fifth instar larvae: 0.77 - 0.80 mm) whereas in M. nepos the legs are significantly shorter (hind tarsus length: 0.51 - 0.59 mm) ; A. apfelbecki takes an intermediate position (0.73 – 0.74 mm). Finally, the sclerotized setal bases of the first abdominal sternum have a marked tendency of fusing in M. nepos, whereas this is only the case in single sclerites in M. mucoreus and A. apfelbecki. As in Drusinae, there seems to be an evolutionary progression in genus Annitella and Melampophylax from omnivorous shredders (e.g. A. obscurata, A. thuringica, M. melampus) to epilithic grazers (e.g. A. apfelbecki, M. mucoreus, M. nepos). Mandibles with teeth appear to be the ancestral state ; the spoon-shaped grazer mandible seems to be derived, having reduced or lost the teeth on the mandible edge.

Trichoptera; Annitella apfelbecki; Melampophylax nepos; description; distribution; ecology

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