Some notes on the trichoptera of standing waters in Africa, mainly south of the Zambezi

The larval morphology and ecology of a new species ofEcnomusfrom lake Naivasha, Kenya (Trichoptera: Ecnomidae)

“…In general patterning the larva of E. mennelli resembles most closely that of E. kimminsi, described by Scott (1963). The head markings are very similar (although in kimminsi the brown frontoclypeal markings are apparently usually joined medially) and the thoracic patterning is also .similar, although the metathorax seems less strongly marked in mennelli.…”

“…As Kimmins (1957) pointed out, it is almost essential to capture mating pairs to ensure correct association of males and females, especially as several species may be found at a single site. However, in this case we are reasonably certain that the females of mennelli are correctly associated because (1) only two species of Ecnomus were found at Naivasha (as adults and larvae) and the females of E. thomasseti were easily recognized from Scott's (1963) figure; (2) several mature pupae of both species were found in the lake; the larval sclerites of thomasseti matched the description by Scott (1963), and female pupae of the other species present were associated with the same pattern of larval sclerites as male pupae of mennelli. Of the known females of Ecnomus, the genitalia most closely resemble Scott's (1963) "sp.…”

“…However, in this case we are reasonably certain that the females of mennelli are correctly associated because (1) only two species of Ecnomus were found at Naivasha (as adults and larvae) and the females of E. thomasseti were easily recognized from Scott's (1963) figure; (2) several mature pupae of both species were found in the lake; the larval sclerites of thomasseti matched the description by Scott (1963), and female pupae of the other species present were associated with the same pattern of larval sclerites as male pupae of mennelli. Of the known females of Ecnomus, the genitalia most closely resemble Scott's (1963) "sp. C" in the form of the subgenital plate and vaginal apparatus, but in Scott's species the median V-shaped incision has a square base, and each lobe has four, not three, apical setae.…”

“…E. mennelli belongs in this group, but can be recognized most easily by the form of the male parameres. The following species have simple parameres with no pre-apical tooth: decussatus Gibbs,forbesi Scott, kimminsi Scott (of which echinatus Jacquemart is almost certainly a synonym), kivuensis Marlier, natalensis Ulmer, relictus Vaillant, tridens Marlier (see Scott, 1968) and ugandanus Kimmins. In the two species which have a pre-apical tooth on the parameres, both barnardi Kimmins and nya Mosely have very short parameres, only about half the length of the aedeagus, in contrast to the long parameres of Relatively few females of African Ecnomus species have been described.…”

“…Scott (1968) described further characters of this natalensisgroup, which at present includes about 23 species.…”